Betting preview: under eight runs seems prudent for Pirates vs. Reds matchup

The Pittsburgh Pirates enter the contest with a balanced 55-55 record, while the Cincinnati Reds have fallen from a 20-11 April start to a 30-46 stretch thereafter. Pitcher Paul Skenes, the Pirates’ ace, holds a 9-9 ledger and a 3.65 ERA but has struggled on the road and this month, surrendering 17 runs in 27.2 innings. The Reds’ young right-hander Hunter Greene, despite flashes of brilliance, has yielded 17 earned runs in 21.2 innings, with mixed results across four starts.

Both teams have underperformed offensively against these arms, and the Reds have been especially weak at home. Considering the importance of the game and the pitchers’ recent numbers, the analyst recommends betting the total runs under eight.