Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 5/3/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Cincinnati (+125) Pittsburgh (-150)

The Cincinnati Reds (20-11) are hitting the road to PNC Park on Sunday where they will attempt to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates (16-16). The odds on this game have the Reds at +125 and the Pirates are sitting at -150. The over/under has been set at 8. The pitchers taking the mound are Chase Burns and Braxton Ashcraft.

As a team, the Cincinnati Reds are scoring 4.3 runs per game, which ranks them 18th in the league. They have earned 133 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .311. The Reds have accumulated 42 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 42 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accumulated 123 RBI's and 226 base knocks so far this year, while their batting average comes in at .220. Cincinnati is slugging .388 and have been called out on strikes 286 times, while taking a walk on 128 occasions.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio is 1.79 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.43. Reds pitchers have given up 32 home runs and also 136 runs (13th in MLB). Cincinnati has allowed 261 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) and also 125 earned runs. The Reds hold a team earned run average of 4.02 this year (13th in baseball), and the staff has rung up 247 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 138 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 4.48 as a squad for the season.

The Reds have sent 115 relievers to the mound on the year. The relievers have inherited 45 runners for the year and 20.0% of them crossing the plate. The bullpen have tallied 25 holds so far this season (2nd in the league). Reds bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with players on base 32 times and also have had 40 appearances in high leverage situations. They have earned 10 saves so far this season and have missed out on 5 of their 15 save opportunities. The Reds bullpen have earned a save rate of 66.7% and have entered the game in 41 save situations.

The Reds have converted 69.9% of balls hit into play into outs out of 2,520 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 14th in the majors. The Cincinnati Reds have a total of 840 putouts thus far, in addition to 263 assists and 14 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .987 which is 8th in pro baseball, and have accumulated 32 double plays.

Burns has taken the mound for 77 innings and has tallied 106 punch outs during his MLB career. His ERA is 3.74 (32 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.232. He has surrendered 67 base knocks (7.8 hits per 9 innings) with 28 walks. Burns (3-4 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.68 while he has gone up against 325 opposing hitters in the major leagues.

The Pirates have a team slugging percentage of .377 and they score 4.78 runs per game (10th in the league). They have put up 42 two-baggers, while taking a walk 121 times and notching 153 runs. Pittsburgh has recorded 34 home runs this year to go along with 147 RBIs. They have struck out on 306 instances (2nd in the league) and have 271 base hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accounted for a team OBP of .326 in addition to a batting average of .244 this season.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.270 and have a FIP of 3.69 as a pitching staff on the campaign. They are sitting at 11th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 245. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have allowed 141 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 3.82 (124 earned runs surrendered). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 9.30 (301 strikeouts vs 126 free passes). They have yielded 26 homers and they surrender 4.34 runs per 9 innings (9th in the league).

With 37 save situations, the Pirates have compiled 24 holds in addition to 8 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on relief pitchers to take the mound in 13 save chances and they have come away with 5 saves. Pittsburgh relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 37.1% out of their 35 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 40 times in high leverage situations in addition to 30 occasions with runners on. They are ranked 28th in baseball holding a save percentage of 38.5%, and they have dispatched 114 relievers to the mound over the course of the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 21 double plays and have earned a fielding percentage of .983 (24th in professional baseball). The Pirates have racked up 253 assists, 19 errors and have amassed 877 putouts on the campaign. Out of their 2,631 innings played, the Pirates have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 70.2% (12th in MLB).

In his MLB career, Ashcraft has allowed 90 base knocks and he has 110 strikeouts in 103 innings pitched. Ashcraft (5-6 record in his career) has a 3.05 earned run average and has allowed 7.8 hits per 9 innings. He has given up a total of 35 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.221 and a FIP of 3.0. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.06 and he has faced 430 batters so far in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Cincinnati (+125)

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