Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/3

The Cincinnati Reds visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for an MLB regular season game. The Reds hold a 20-13 record and stand 2nd in the NL Central. They aim to end their two-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the Pirates have an 18-16 record and are 5th in the division. They are on a two-game winning streak.
This game is at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. The weather is clear and cool, making it a pleasant day for baseball. The Reds will start Chase Burns, who has a 3-1 record and a 2.65 ERA this season. The Pirates will counter with Braxton Ashcraft, holding a 1-2 record and a 3.71 ERA. The game starts at 1:35 PM and is on SN PT.
Cincinnati Reds Team Preview
The Cincinnati Reds are coming off a tough stretch in their recent games. They faced the Pittsburgh Pirates and suffered two losses, with scores of 17-7 and 9-1. In those games, their hitting was inconsistent, and the pitching staff struggled, allowing high runs.
In their lineup, Elly De La Cruz stands out with a batting average of .277 and 10 home runs. Nathaniel Lowe also contributes with a .288 average and 5 home runs. However, other players like TJ Friedl and Matt McLain need to improve their hitting to boost the team’s performance.
Chase Burns is the probable starting pitcher for the Reds in the upcoming game. This season, he has a record of 3-1 with a 2.65 ERA. Burns will aim to provide a strong start and help the Reds get back on track.
Reds vs Pirates Game Day Info
- Sport: MLB
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Betting Odds: Reds Moneyline -101, Pirates Moneyline -119
Pittsburgh Pirates Team Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates recently enjoyed a strong performance at home against the Cincinnati Reds. In their latest game on May 2nd, they won 17-7 with 19 hits and 7 extra-base hits. Players like Marcell Ozuna and Konnor Griffin contributed significantly to this victory.
On May 1st, the Pirates secured another win against the Reds, finishing with a score of 9-1. Mitch Keller was the starting pitcher and allowed only 1 earned run over 7 innings. Henry Davis and Bryan Reynolds were key hitters, each adding home runs to the game.
Despite recent successes, the Pirates faced challenges against the St. Louis Cardinals. They lost on April 30th by a score of 10-5, with Paul Skenes as the starting pitcher. Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds performed well in that game, each contributing multiple hits.
BTB Betting Pick
The Pirates are favored with a moneyline of -119, while the Reds are at -101. The Pirates have a stronger team batting average and pitching stats. With these factors, the pick is for the Pirates to win. The projected score is Pirates 5, Reds 3.
The total for the game is set at 7.5 runs. Given the Pirates’ solid pitching and the Reds’ lower batting average, the game is expected to be low-scoring. The recommendation is to take the under 7.5. The projected total is 8 runs, but the pitching may keep the score lower.