Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 8/1/26, 3:33 PM  by Bill Christy | Modified on 8/3/26 at 11:47 AM in MLB Picks

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to avoid the 3-game sweep from the Cincinnati Reds tonight at the Great American Ballpark.

Game one featured a bullpen start from the Pirates, and they did well in keeping the Reds to just 2 runs over 8 innings. However, the Reds starter, Rhett Lowder, did the same through 6 innings. With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the 9th, Nathaniel Lowe hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Elly De La Cruz and allowed the Reds to win in walk-off fashion.

In the 2nd game of the series, the game was more of a back-and-forth contest. Both starters did not have their best stuff and allowed numerous runs before exiting the game. Trailing 5-4 in the 8th inning, the Pirates produced 3 runs to take a 7-5 lead on the Reds. After a Sal Stewart 2-RBI single, it was Nathaniel Lowe once again that provided what would be the game-winning RBI on another fielder’s choice.

Tonight, the Pirates will turn to Braxton Ashcraft in hopes that they can potentially salvage a 2-2 series. At 10-4, Ashcraft has been the beneficiary of the Pirates' offense the most this season. He will be opposed by Andrew Abbott, who has not had much luck over his last several starts.