theathleticuk
The Cincinnati Reds are set to welcome the Pittsburgh Pirates to Great American Ball Park on Sunday, with the opening pitch scheduled for 1:40 p.m. ET. This National League Central showdown features two teams heading in different directions, as the Pirates hold a 56-56 record and sit third in the division, while the Reds are 52-58 and occupy fifth place.
On the mound, the Reds will hand the ball to Chase Burns, who has been impressive this season with a 12-1 record and a 2.40 ERA. The Pirates will counter with Mitch Keller, who enters the contest with a 6-7 mark and a 4.83 ERA. Both pitchers will look to give their teams a boost in the standings.
How to Watch and Odds
Fans can catch the action live on Reds.TV and SportsNet PT, or stream the game via Fubo. Those planning to attend in person can purchase tickets through StubHub. According to the latest odds, the Reds are favored at -155, while the Pirates are listed as +125 underdogs. The over/under is set at 8.5 runs, with both the over and under priced at -110.
Injury Report
The Reds have several players on the injured list, including Spencer Steer (10-day IL, wrist), Blake Dunn (10-day IL, elbow), Tony Santillan (15-day IL, oblique), Nick Lodolo (15-day IL, finger), Graham Ashcraft (60-day IL, forearm), and Brandon Williamson (60-day IL, shoulder). The Pirates' injury list features Ryan O'Hearn (10-day IL, quadricep), Spencer Horwitz (10-day IL, hamstring), Evan Sisk (15-day IL, elbow), Chris Devenski (60-day IL, illness), Oneil Cruz (60-day IL, hand), and Konnor Griffin (60-day IL, finger).
Key Stats to Know
Cincinnati's Sal Stewart has been a standout at the plate, belting 23 home runs (15th in MLB) and driving in 83 runs (2nd in MLB) while scoring 58 times. In 477 plate appearances, he owns a .254 batting average, a .335 on-base percentage, and a .475 slugging percentage, with a 10.7% walk rate and a 22% strikeout rate. Stewart has also been active on the basepaths, swiping 12 bags in 16 attempts.
Elly De La Cruz has also been a key contributor for the Reds, hitting 18 homers and driving in 48 runs while scoring 62 runs in 409 plate appearances. He boasts a .276/.355/.503 slash line, with a 27.1% strikeout rate and a 10.5% walk rate. De La Cruz has stolen 20 bases in 26 tries.
For the Pirates, Bryan Reynolds has provided power with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs, scoring 75 runs in 488 plate appearances. He carries a .268 average, a .381 on-base percentage, and a .451 slugging percentage, along with a 13.9% walk rate and a 23.8% strikeout rate. Reynolds has been perfect on the basepaths, converting all seven steal attempts.
Brandon Lowe has also been a force for Pittsburgh, hitting 23 long balls (15th in MLB) and driving in 71 runs (9th in MLB) while scoring 68 runs (17th in MLB) in 460 plate appearances. He is hitting .257 with a .324 on-base percentage and a .491 slugging percentage, posting a 27.2% strikeout rate and a 9.1% walk rate.
This watch guide was produced with the assistance of Data Skrive. Photo credits: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.