Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Prediction for Sunday, June 28, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds (38–42) head to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (41–41) at PNC Park. With the Reds still trying to climb back to .500, they’ll be aiming to turn things around in NL Central play and finally start getting better results against their division rivals. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.
Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh Game Information
- June 28, 2026
- 1:35 PM EST
- PNC Park
- MLB.TV/Reds.TV/Fubo
Pittsburgh Form & Recent Results
Pittsburgh heads into this matchup trying to bounce back after a one-game skid, though they’ve actually been playing fairly solid baseball lately. Before Saturday’s middle game of the series against Cincinnati, the Pirates had won three of their last five games, with two of those victories coming against Seattle and another against Colorado. Even in Friday’s 6–4 loss at home to the Reds, their offense showed plenty of life. Shortstop Konnor Griffin and right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez were the standout bats, each going 2-for-4 while also leaving the yard, crossing the plate once, and driving in a run. Overall, Pittsburgh didn’t exactly look overmatched at the plate. They finished with nine hits, three home runs, and 18 total bases, but couldn’t quite come up with the big timely plays needed to turn that production into a win.
The Pirates’ lineup has a few clear leaders carrying the load this season. Second baseman Brandon Lowe has been their most consistent power threat, pacing the team with 19 home runs, while center fielder Oneil Cruz sits right behind him with 14. Lowe has also been one of their most productive run producers, tied with left fielder Bryan Reynolds for the team lead in RBIs at 52 apiece. When it comes to pure hitting consistency, third baseman Nick Gonzales has been their most reliable average hitter, leading the club with a .295 batting average. Pittsburgh has also been scoring at a strong clip lately, averaging six runs per game over their last five, and they’ll look to use that recent offensive momentum to finally push above the .500 mark, and just as importantly, to answer back after Friday’s frustrating loss by getting a win over the Reds on Sunday afternoon.
Cincinnati Form & Recent Results
Cincinnati comes into this matchup with a little bit of momentum, riding a one-game winning streak, but the bigger picture shows they’ve been inconsistent lately. Before Friday’s game, the Reds had lost three of their previous five games, including a rough series at home where Milwaukee came into Cincinnati and swept them. That stretch highlighted some of the issues the Reds have been trying to clean up, stringing together quality pitching outings, getting timely hits, and avoiding the kind of short cold spells that can quickly flip a series.
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On Friday night in Pittsburgh, the Reds were able to lean on a huge swing at the right time to pull out a 6–4 road win. Designated hitter Noelvi Marte delivered the biggest moment of the game, coming off the bench and launching a pinch-hit, two-run home run that ultimately ended up being the difference. On the mound, starter Andrew Abbott gave them a solid outing, 5⅓ innings, six hits, three earned runs, one walk, and six strikeouts against the Pirates. Offensively, the power has largely been driven by first baseman Sal Stewart, who leads the team with 14 home runs and also tops the Reds in RBIs with 55. Spencer Steer and JJ Bleday have provided plenty of pop as well, sitting just behind him with 13 homers apiece. In terms of pure hitting consistency, Elly De La Cruz has been their top average guy, leading Cincinnati with a .273 mark on the season. Looking ahead to Sunday’s series finale, the Reds will be aiming to build on that Friday win and keep their pitching trending in the right direction. They've allowed about three runs per game in their last five while grabbing a much-needed road victory in Pittsburgh.
Key Stats
- Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart this season: 14 HRs, 55 RBI, .249 AVG
- Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds this season: 11 HRs, 52 RBI, .289 AVG
Betting Odds & Market Overview:
- PIT -136 / CIN +113; O/U 9
Cincinnati vs Pittsburgh Picks and Prediction
Cincinnati picked up a much-needed win Friday against a division rival, taking down the Pirates and highly touted rookie Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh will try to bounce back in Sunday’s series finale, handing the ball to Mitch Keller, who comes in at 5–5 with a 4.89 ERA. The Reds will counter with Brady Singer, who’s been up and down this year and enters the start at 3–6 with a 4.81 ERA. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Pirates win 6-3.
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