Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Preview, Pitching Matchups, and Key Players for August 8, 2025

Friday, August 8th, 2025

Cincinnati Reds Visit Pittsburgh Pirates in NL Central Showdown at PNC Park

The Cincinnati Reds (60-56), sitting third in the NL Central, face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (50-66), currently fifth in the division, at PNC Park on Friday evening. Both teams will look to gain ground in the competitive Central race as the Reds hold a 4-3 edge in the season series so far.

Pitching Matchup

The Reds are set to start Chase Burns (0-3, 6.04 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 47 strikeouts), while the Pirates counter with Mitch Keller (5-10, 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 104 strikeouts). Both pitchers will look to control strong opposing lineups in what has the makings of a hard-fought divisional clash.

Weather

Today at PNC Park, expect mostly clear skies with a high around 81°F. There is virtually no chance of precipitation, making for dry conditions throughout the game. Winds are light out of the southwest at 6 mph—minimal impact on fly balls. It should be a comfortable and ideal evening for baseball.

Team Breakdown

Pittsburgh enters with a 33-27 record at home and looks to capitalize on their home-field advantage after taking a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates are 36-11 when they tally more hits than their opponents, highlighting the importance of their bats.

The Reds, with a 27-30 mark on the road, aim to improve their standing. Cincinnati boasts a 50-8 record when out-hitting opponents, underlining their offensive potential. The Reds have excelled in the season series so far, but Pittsburgh will be eager to close the gap.

Top Performers

For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz has contributed 16 doubles, two triples, and 18 home runs despite hitting .208. Liover Peguero has been in form recently, going 7-for-28 with a double and four home runs in his last 10 games.

The Reds have seen big contributions from Elly De La Cruz, who leads the team with 19 home runs and a robust .474 slugging percentage. Tyler Stephenson has gone 8-for-32 with two homers and five RBI over the past 10 games.

Recent Form

The Pirates have won six of their last ten games, posting a .263 team batting average and a 5.25 ERA, edging their opponents by three runs over that stretch.

Cincinnati comes in at 4-6 over their last ten, hitting .234 with a 4.35 ERA and have been outscored by 10 runs.

Injuries

Pittsburgh continues to manage several injuries, with Chase Shugart (knee), Endy Rodriguez (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder), Justin Lawrence (elbow), Tim Mayza (hamstring) currently on the injured list.

MLB Schedules

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