Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions June 25th 2024

Young Star Shortstops on Display in Reds- Pirates Series

Elly De La Cruz and O’Neil Cruz have set the stage for an exciting encore as they prepare to face off again Tuesday night. Both young and electrifying shortstops are ready to outmatch each other when De La Cruz and the Cincinnati Reds host Cruz and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the middle game of a three- game series between the National League Central rivals.

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Monday Night’s Electrifying Performances

De La Cruz’s Impact

At only 22 years old, Elly De La Cruz had a notable influence on Monday evening. De La Cruz fell just a triple short of hitting for the cycle as The Reds defeated the Pirates 11-5. In the sixth inning, he had a memorable moment by hitting a 439- foot, two- run home run into the Riverboat in center field, increasing the Reds’ lead to 11- 3.

De La Cruz’s teammate, Jonathan India, shared an entertaining pre-game exchange that stressed De La Cruz’s prowess.” He was like,’ No way, man. You can not hit it harder than me,'” India recalled.” I was like,’ You can not even hit the boat.’ Then he did it in the game. I was in awe at second base. I could not believe he did it.”

– Jonathan India

Oneil Cruz’s Response

At 25 years old, Oneil Cruz didn’t allow De La Cruz to hog all the attention. Cruz slammed a powerful two-run homer in the seventh inning, sending the ball 458 feet into the bleachers in right field. In the ninth inning, he displayed his resolve by hitting a single with two outs, making Reds reliever Justin Wilson throw 27 pitches.

Pirates director Derek Shelton praised his team’s effort, saying,” I was proud of the fact they kept playing. We ended the game with the bases loaded and we continued to grind out at- bats.”

– Derek Shelton

Pitching Matchup

Hunter Greene’s Consistency

The Reds plan to start Hunter Greene, who has a 5-2, 3.35 ERA. Greene pitched an impressive 61/3 scoreless innings against the Pirates on Wednesday, allowing just two hits and striking out nine. He was not a factor in the decision.

Greene has shown consistency against the Pirates, holding an 0- 2 record but an impressive1.55 ERA in five career starts against them.

Mitch Keller’s Challenge

Mitch Keller( 8- 4,3.11 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates. In his last outing against the Reds, Keller also delivered a strong performance, surrendering just two hits and striking out seven over seven shutout innings.

Keller has plodded historically against the Reds, with a 2- 4 record and a5.45 ERA in 15 career starts. However, his recent form suggests he might be over to the challenge this time.

Key Players and Streaks

Bryan Reynolds’ Hitting Streak

Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds stayed on fire, going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Monday’s game. Reynolds’ hitting streak has reached 21 games, currently the longest in the majors and the longest for a Pittsburgh player since Jason Kendall’s 23-game streak in 2003.

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Reds’ and Pirates’ Records

Both the Reds and Pirates presently have identical 37- 41 records, pressing the competitiveness of this series. The performances of De La Cruz and Cruz could be vital in determining which team gains an edge in the standings.

Series Outlook

The Reds and Pirates are displaying two of the most talented young players in baseball, De La Cruz and Cruz. The matchups between them are not only entertaining but also important for their teams’ rankings in the National League Central. Fans can anticipate more exciting plays from these energetic shortstops as the series goes on.