Free MLB Picks Today: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds 4/21/23

Free MLB Picks Today: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds 4/21/23
Fri 21st April 2023

Graham Ashcraft, one of the early season’s toughest pitchers, is set to take the mound for the Cincinnati Reds (7-12) as they face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (13-7) at PNC Park on Friday. The Pirates took Thursday’s series opener 4-3, their second head-to-head victory in four games this season.

Roansy Contreras went 6.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out eight, to get the win, and David Bednar earned his sixth save with a scoreless ninth.

Jack Suwinski went 1 for 2 with a solo home run in the win. Connor Joe added a home run and three RBIs. Jonathan India was 3 for 4 with a double, one run, and one RBI for the Reds.

ON THE MOUND

Ashcraft (2-0, 1.42 ERA) is slated to start for Cincinnati. The RHP threw six scoreless innings in his last start, a 13-0 road win over the Phillies on Saturday. He got the win, scattering four hits while striking out four and walking four.

Ashcraft has made one previous start against the Pirates this season, a 3-1 home victory on April 2. He surrendered one run on four hits over seven innings, striking out six and walking one. Righty Mitch Keller (1-0, 3.57 ERA) gets the ball for Pittsburgh.

He has made one prior start against the Reds this season, giving up four runs over 4.2 innings in a 5-4 road win on March 30. He gave up five hits and walked four, while striking out eight in the no-decision.

In his last start on Sunday, Keller took a no-decision on the road against the Cardinals. He threw six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking two in the 5-4 defeat.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Cincinnati has averaged only 2.8 runs a game, down from their season average of 4.5, while performing worse across the board (.205/.279/.269).

Against righties like Keller this season, the Reds have a .708 OPS. India is the team’s strongest performer against right-handers with a .920 OPS in 48 at-bats.

Pittsburgh is averaging 8.2 runs per game in the last five, up from 5.2 for the season, with a better slash line (.299/.368/.522). The Bucs have a .754 OPS against right-handers in 2023. With a .426 OBP over 60 at-bats, Andrew McCutchen has their highest on-base percentage against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Cincinnati is on a four-game losing streak in road games, bringing their record to 1-6 in 2023. The Reds have scored 3.9 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.7 runs.

Pittsburgh has gone 4-3 at PNC Park this season, averaging 4.6 runs per game while surrendering 6.0. In the last 10 games at PNC Park between the NL Central rivals, Pittsburgh is 7-3 despite an average scoreline favoring Cincinnati (4.2-3.7).

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Reds are fifth in the NL Central, seven games behind the division-leading Brewers. The Pirates are second in the NL Central, one games behind the Brewers.

SportsTips’ MLB Pick:

Pittsburgh Pirates (-145)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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