4-11-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
The Reds and Pirates have entered the season with similar goals on the year and have struggled in essentially the same ways out of the gate. The Pirates offense ranks dead last in MLB for batting average (.198) while the Reds are pacing 14th in the NL in that category (.206).
Despite the ineptitudes with the stick for both teams, the pitching for each side has been much better. Cincinnati’s rotation has posted the 4th lowest ERA (2.81) and trail only the Philadelphia Phillies in K-BB% (18.2%).
The Pirates have had some issues in the bullpen early on but their pitching corp is starting to click lately, combining for a 2.79 ERA over the past 4 games this week with a K-BB% of 19.8% over this time span.
4/11
Pirates: Bailey Falter (L) – 10 IP, 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 9 K, 1 BB
Reds: Brady Singer (R) – 12 IP, 2-0, 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 10 K, 3 BB
4/12
Pirates: Andrew Heaney (L) – 12 IP, 0-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12 K, 2 BB
Reds: Andrew Abbott (L) – (2024 stats) 138 IP, 10-10, 3.72 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 114 K, 52 BB
4/13
Pirates: Carmen Mlodzinski (R) – 8.2 IP, 1-1, 5.19 ERA, 1.85 WHIP, 10 K, 4 BB
Reds: Hunter Greene (R) – 20.2 IP, 1-1, 1.31 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, 23 K, 3 BB
Pirates: Joey Bart – Bart walked off the final game against the Cardinals on Wednesday with a long single to left field, continuing to show that the bat that led the Pirate offense from last season is still there. Over that Cardinals series, Bart went 5-for-11 with 3 extra base hits and 4 RBI.
Reds: Jose Trevino – Trevino was signed this offseason after spending the previous three years as backstop for the Bronx Bombers and has been able to hit in an underperforming lineup. The former Platinum Glove-winner has a .273/.333/.455 slash line over his first 25 plate appearances with plus defense behind the dish.
Pirates: Adam Frazier – Plenty of hitters are struggling but no one more to the detriment of Frazier, who has been playing more than expected following the Nick Gonzales injury. Among hitters with 40+ plate appearances, Frazier ranks 5th worst in wRC+ and OPS in MLB.
Reds: Jeimer Candelario – One of the few players who has been statistically worse than Frazier, Candelario’s .140/.208/.163 has him at 4th worst in MLB for both wRC+ and OPS with a -0.4 bWAR in the early going for the veteran switch-hitter.
Pirates: Jared Triolo (low back strain) – He might not provide much – if anything – with the bat but the defending Utility Gold Glover has continued to post strong defense wherever the team plays him.
Reds: Matt McLain (left hamstring strain) – McLain has been one of the handful of hitters providing pop in this Reds’ lineup with a team-leading 3 home runs before landing on the IL this week.
Notes
The Pirates and Reds have one of the oldest rivalries among all professional sports that dates back to 1882, with the Bucs holding a 1,247-1,227 record over Cincinnati. The Pirates won 8 of 13 matchups last season and, if they are going to have any chance at October baseball, will need to be able to win these affairs this year as well.
Steel City Pirates 