Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction – 8/7/2025
The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates will renew their NL Central rivalry on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. This is the opening game of a huge four-game series for the Reds as they look to move closer to a Wild Card position. But they will need to get the better of the great Paul Skenes to win this series opener. Before first pitch from PNC Park, continue reading to get my Reds vs Pirates prediction.
Our Reds vs Pirates Pick
- Pick: Pirates Moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Game Snapshot
| Matchup | Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Date & Time | August 7, 2025, 6:40 PM EDT |
| Starting Pitchers | Brady Singer (CIN) vs. Paul Skenes (CHC) |
| Stadium | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Broadcast | MLB Network |
Key Storylines to Watch
- Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer and Paul Skenes will take the mound in this matchup. Singer enters this start for the Reds at 9-8 with a 4.36 ERA. He has allowed just one earned run in his last two starts and will look for another dominant showing against the Pirates. Skenes is just 6-8 this season but leads the league in ERA at 2.02.
- Team Momentum: The Reds have a 60-54 record and they are just three games back of the New York Mets for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League. Cincinnati most recently took two out of three games from the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh has lost two straight games and three of their last five.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop | Pick |
|---|---|---|
| Elly De La Cruz | Home Runs | Over 0.5 |
| Paul Skenes | Strikeouts | Over 8.5 |
| Oneil Cruz | Total Bases | Over 1.5 |
Betting Trends & Head-to-Head
- The Reds lead the season series between these teams by a 4-2 margin.
- Home teams are 5-1 in games played between the Reds and Pirates so far this season.
- Both teams have seen 57% or more of their games go under their totals.
Reds vs Pirates Model Projection
Projected Score: Pirates 4 – Reds 3
Win Probability: Pirates 57.3% | Reds 42.7%
Final Thoughts
The Pittsburgh Pirates are favored in this game solely because Paul Skenes is on the mound. And that is all the reason I need to back the Bucs in this contest. Skenes should bounce back nicely from an uncharacteristically bad start at Coors Field in his last outing. I will take the Pirates to win this game and start this four-game series off on the right foot.
