Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Predictions for Saturday, August 1st, 2026

On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (55-54) face off against the Cincinnati Reds (50-57) at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. Get involved in the action with our free MLB picks.

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati Game Information

• August 1, 2026
• 6:40 PM EST
• Great American Ball Park
• MLB.TV/Reds.TV/Fubo

Cincinnati Form & Recent Results

Cincinnati heads into this matchup trying to shake off a recent rough patch. The Reds are coming in on a one-game losing streak, and their form over the last week hasn’t been great either, with three losses in their last five games leading up to Thursday and  Friday. Two of those defeats were especially frustrating because they happened at home against the in-state-rival Guardians, while the other came on the road in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Their most recent setback was Wednesday’s 6–1 loss to Cleveland at home, a game where the offense never really got going. Even so, center fielder Dane Myers managed to put together a solid all-around night at the plate, going 1-for-2 with a single while also reaching base three additional times thanks to a hit-by-pitch and a walk, and he eventually came around to score Cincinnati’s lone run.

Despite the recent losses, the Reds still have a few clear standouts powering their lineup this season. First baseman Sal Stewart has been their most consistent home run threat, leading the team with 22 long balls, and he’s also been their top run producer with 79 RBIs. Right behind him in the power department are left fielder JJ Bleday and shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who have each launched 18 home runs so far. De La Cruz has also been one of Cincinnati’s steadiest hitters overall, leading the team with a .274 batting average. On the pitching and defense side, the Reds have been giving up 4.4 runs per game over their last five games, so tightening things up on the mound will be a priority as they try to defend their home field and pick up a much-needed win against another division opponent, the Pirates, on Saturday.

Pittsburgh Form & Recent Results

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup trying to stop the bleeding after a rough stretch. The Pirates have lost two games in a row and have dropped three of their last five overall heading into Thursday and Friday’s matchups. What makes it more frustrating is that several of those losses happened at home, where teams usually expect to play their best baseball. Two of the defeats came against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park, and another home loss was against the Chicago Cubs. In Wednesday’s 3–0 loss to Arizona, the offense never really got going, but shortstop Jared Triolo was a bright spot, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and accounting for much of Pittsburgh’s limited production at the plate.

Even with the recent skid, the Pirates do have a few players carrying the lineup statistically. Second baseman Brandon Lowe has been their top power threat this season, leading the team with 22 home runs. Right fielder Ryan O’Hearn isn’t far behind and ranks second on the club with 17 homers. The two have also been the most reliable run producers, as both Lowe and O’Hearn share the team lead with 69 RBIs apiece. When it comes to pure hitting consistency, third baseman Nick Gonzales has set the pace, batting .315 on the year. The bigger issue lately has been run prevention: over their last five games, Pittsburgh has surrendered an average of 6.2 runs per game. They’ll look to tighten things up and bounce back on Saturday in Cincinnati against a Reds team that has struggled as well.

Key Stats

• Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales this season: 6 HRs, 47 RBI, .315 AVG
• Cincinnati’s Sal Stewart this season: 22 HRs, 79 RBI, .253 AVG

Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati Picks and Prediction

Cincinnati has had a tough season overall, but they came out of the All-Star break playing better baseball and seemed to be trending in the right direction. That momentum took a bit of a hit, though, after they dropped a series at home to the Guardians. They’ll try to bounce back with left-hander Andrew Abbott on the mound. Abbott is 5–6 with a 3.85 ERA and has generally given them a chance to win when he’s on. Pittsburgh will counter with Braxton Ashcraft, who’s having a strong year in terms of results at 10–4, even if his 4.05 ERA suggests he’s had to work through some traffic at times. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Pirates win 3-2.