Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions June 24th 2024

Reds Look to Avoid Third Straight Home Loss Against Pirates

The Cincinnati Reds are set to start a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home on Monday, striving to avoid a third consecutive home loss. The Reds are currently struggling after back-to-back home defeats against the Boston Red Sox. Despite a 5-2 win on Friday, they fell short with a 4-3 loss on Saturday and a 7-4 defeat on Sunday.

Reds’ Recent Performance

Left-hander Nick Lodolo faced difficulties in Sunday’s game, surrendering four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings, walking four, and striking out three. After the game, manager David Bell revealed that Lodolo had been pitching with a blister on his throwing hand. This latest loss marks the Reds’ sixth defeat in their past eight games.

“I definitely thought we probably played well enough to win (the series),” Lodolo remarked. “Or at least we should have. We’ve got to keep going. It’s all we can do.”

Pirates’ Recent Form and Pitching Plans

The Pirates, who recently secured two wins out of three against the Reds in Pittsburgh, are coming off a 3-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Left-hander Bailey Falter (3-5, 3.74 ERA) is set to start for Pittsburgh on Monday, while righty Carson Spiers (0-1, 3.20 ERA) is expected to pitch for Cincinnati.

Spiers made his first major league start of the season in the Reds’ 4-1 loss to Pittsburgh last Monday, allowing four runs in six innings—all in the first two innings. Despite this, manager Bell saw promise in his performance.

“It was his third start in the big leagues,” Bell noted. “It’s OK to be a little over-amped in that situation. He got behind the first couple hitters and walked the first hitter. That cost us a couple runs. Other than that, he threw six innings, held us right there and gave us a shot to win.”

Spiers has alternated between starting and relieving roles but has primarily started this season. His recent start against the Pirates was his only career appearance against them.

“I’ve said it before: I truly don’t care what the role is,” Spiers stated. “I want to help the team win.”

Falter’s Track Record and Bednar’s Absence

Bailey Falter, who took the loss in Cincinnati’s 2-1 win over Pittsburgh last Tuesday, has struggled against the Reds throughout his career, holding an 0-2 record with a 6.29 ERA in six appearances (four starts). In his latest outing, Falter allowed two runs on seven hits over seven innings, striking out three and walking two.

The Reds will not face Pittsburgh’s closer, David Bednar, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique muscle. Bednar has been a key figure for the Pirates with 16 saves and a 5.17 ERA in 34 appearances this season. His absence is a significant blow to the Pirates’ bullpen.

“We believe it’s a minor thing, but it’s just not quite good enough to take the risk of putting him in a game,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington explained. “Obviously, he’s really important to us and we need him for the biggest part of the season.”

Key Player Performances

In Sunday’s game, Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds extended his hitting streak to 20 games, the longest by a Pittsburgh player since Jason Kendall in 2004, by going 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk. However, the rest of the Pirates’ lineup struggled, managing just one hit in 26 at-bats with three walks.

As the Reds face the Pirates, both teams are grappling with challenges and striving for better performances. The Reds are eager to halt their home losing streak and capitalize on any advantage, including Bednar’s absence, while the Pirates look to build on their recent successes against Cincinnati.

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