Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds 9/15/2017 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

The PITTSBURGH and the CINCINNATI will both be gunning for a victory on 9/15/2017 at 7:10 PM when they meet in a game matchup.

GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (68-79) at Cincinnati Reds (63-84)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 15 – 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (7-10, 4.21 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (4-8, 7.26)
LINE: -115
PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Reds 4

Oddsmakers currently have the CINCINNATI listed as -115 point favorites versus the PITTSBURGH, while the game’s total is sitting at 9.5.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are fading to the finish after a handful of years in the postseason race, and individual accomplishments are starting to take center stage. The Pirates will try to tack a win onto the milestones when they visit the Cincinnati Reds for the opener of a three-game series on Friday.

Center fielder Andrew McCutchen became the fourth player in Pittsburgh franchise history to reach 200 career homers when he belted a solo shot off Milwaukee’s Chase Anderson in the first inning of an 8-2 loss on Wednesday, joining Willie Stargell (475), Ralph Kiner (301) and Roberto Clemente (240). “It’s cool, but I plan on playing for another 10 years,” McCutchen, who could become a free agent after the season if the team declines its $14.5 million option, told reporters. “It’s cool to be here for a day, but I’ll try to keep pushing forward. It was a good day for the homer and all, but we’re past that. That’s it.” The Pirates (68-79) are losers of seven of their last eight games but still sit above the Reds (63-84), who dropped five of seven on a road trip that was capped by a 5-2 loss at St. Louis on Thursday. Pittsburgh will send right-hander Chad Kuhl to the mound on Friday while Cincinnati counters with struggling veteran Homer Bailey.

Kuhl struggled with his control last time out and issued five walks in six innings but limited the damage to two runs – one earned. The 25-year-old Delaware native surrendered a total of six hits in 13 innings over his last two starts and yielded three or fewer runs in each of his last five turns. Kuhl dominated in his lone start against Cincinnati, scattering four hits over seven scoreless innings to earn the win.

Bailey is winless in his last five outings and was ripped for five runs on six hits and three walks in six innings at the New York Mets on Saturday. The veteran Texan owns a 1.76 WHIP while allowing 96 hits and 35 walks in 74 1/3 total innings while making his way back from injury. Bailey allowed one run over six innings to earn a win at Pittsburgh on Aug. 1 and has held McCutchen homerless in 45 career at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, raising his batting average to .316.

2. McCutchen recorded an extra-base hit in each of the last four games.

3. Pittsburgh rookie 1B Josh Bell (24) needs two home runs to tie Jason Bay for the most in club history by a rookie.

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