Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Use Code WWWC It’s the middle game of a three-game set between a pair of NL Central rivals on the diamond in the land of Skyline chili as the Pittsburgh Pirates travel to take on the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday evening and we have you covered with our Pirates vs. Reds prediction. Pittsburgh salvaged the finale of their three-game set with the Mets, winning 4-3 in 10 innings on the road Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati won the rubber game of their three-game set at home with Boston, prevailing 3-2 Sunday. This article was originally published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the set at the Great American Ball Park Monday night. Read more about this Pirates vs. Reds prediction! Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks!
Pittsburgh Looking to Prevail on the Road
Pittsburgh needed extra innings but managed to earn the victory in the finale of their three-game set in the Big Apple against the Mets Sunday afternoon. The Pirates entered Monday 1-2 and stood tied for fourth in the NL Central, two games behind Milwaukee for the top spot. Against the Mets Sunday, Pittsburgh finished with seven hits as Ryan O’Hearn (two RBI) had three while Brandon Lowe (run, RBI) added two. Lowe (his third) went deep for the Pirates in the contest. Carmen Mlodzinski threw 4.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with no walks and eight strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Dennis Santana (1-0) earned the win as he threw a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits or walks while striking out one. Jose Urquidy worked the 10th, allowing one run (none earned) on one hit with one walk and no strikeouts for his first save.
Bubba Chandler is slated to make his season debut for the Pirates in this contest. He made seven appearances, four starts, last season at the big league level, posting a 4-1 record with one save, a 4.02 ERA, a 0.926 WHIP, four walks and 31 strikeouts over 31.1 innings of work. Chandler made four appearances, three starts, in spring training for the Pirates. He posted a 1-1 record with a 6.55 ERA, a 1.455 WHIP, 11 walks and 17 strikeouts over 11 innings of work. Chandler, in his eighth career major league appearance, fifth start, pitches against the Reds for the first time here. As a result, he pitches at the Great American Ball Park for the first time here.
Reds Seek to Continue Success on Homestand
Cincinnati won their second straight after dropping their season opener as they downed the Red Sox in the rubber game Sunday afternoon. The Reds entered Monday 2-1 on the year and stood tied for second in the NL Central, one game behind the Brewers for the top spot. Against Boston, Cincinnati finished with seven hits in the contest as Sal Stewart (run) was the lone player with two. Eugenio Suarez (his first) went deep in the sixth inning to account for the Reds’ offense. Rhett Lowder threw five innings, allowing two runs on three hits with two walks and five strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Brock Burke (1-0) earned the win in relief as he threw 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk with no strikeouts. Emilio Pagan worked a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit with one walk and no strikeouts, for his first save.
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Brandon Williamson is on the mound for the Reds as he makes his first start of the year here. He missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2024. Williamson made five appearances, three starts, in spring training this season. He posted a 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA, a 0.918 WHIP, three walks and 15 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. Williamson makes his third career start against the Pirates in this contest. He has no record with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, three walks and nine strikeouts over 10 innings of work against them. Williamson is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, 17 walks and 54 strikeouts over 60 innings of work in 12 career starts at the Great American Ball Park.
Pirates vs. Reds Pick
Moneyline Pick for Pirates vs. Reds
- Reds (4 units)
It’s tough to get a read on things after the opening series of the season but the fact remains that the Pirates still have work to do in order to be taken seriously as a contender in the NL East. Chandler was solid in a late season callup last year but has to prove he can do that over a full season. He handed out 11 free passes in 11 innings in the spring compared to four over 31.1 innings in his seven big league outings last year. Williamson is looking to secure a spot in the back of the Reds’ rotation after missing all of last year. Cincinnati should get their bats going here and come up with the home victory here.
Over/Under Pick for Pirates vs. Reds
- Over (4 units)
Piitsburgh stayed under the total in two of their three games this season to kick off the year. The Pirates average 4.33 runs per game in the opening series of the year while allowing an average of six runs per contest. That gives Pittsburgh an average total of 10.33 runs per game entering Monday night’s action. Cincinnati stayed under the total in two of their first three games of the year entering Monday. The Reds put up an average of three runs per game on the year while allowing an average of 3.33 runs per contest. That gives an average total of 6.33 runs per contest entering Monday. With favorable conditions at the Great American Ball Park, look for this one to wind up over the number.
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