8-7-2025 – By Michael Castrignano – @412DoublePlay on X
After dropping 4 of 6 since the Trade Deadline, the Pirates are slumping in the standings and looking for any semblance of production heading down the stretch. Even with playoff baseball well in the rearview window, competitive ball can still be played, and what better opponent to turn things around against than their division rival, Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds were buyers at the deadline this season, acquiring 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pirates and RHP Zack Littell from the Rays – both of whom the Bucs will see in this 4-game series.
Cincinnati enters this weekend just 3 games back in the wild card race and with a number of tough opponents on the horizon (Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers) so they will be looking to beat up on a struggling opponent but their offense has struggled with an MLB-worst team wRC+ of 41 in August.
For the Pirates, the bullpen has been really struggling as they have had to cover the 2nd most innings in MLB this month (28.2) with a 7.53 ERA over that stretch as they look to get more consistency from the starters and create better opportunities to come through in relief.
8/7
Reds: Brady Singer – 9-8, 115.2 IP, 4.36 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 111 Ks/44 walks
Pirates: Paul Skenes – 6-8. 138 IP, 2.02 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 154 Ks/34 walks
8/8
Reds: Chase Burns – 0-3, 28.1 IP, 6.04 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 47 Ks/12 walks
Pirates: Mitch Keller – 5-10, 132 IP, 3.89 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 104 Ks/34 walks
8/9
Reds: Nick Martinez – 9-9, 129.1 IP, 4.66 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 93 Ks/31 walks
Pirates: TBA
8/10
Reds: Zack Littell – 9-8, 140.1 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 97 Ks/23 walks
Pirates: Mike Burrows – 1-4, 62.2 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 63 Ks/24 walks
Reds: TJ Friedl – Friedl enters the weekend riding an 8 game hitting streak with multiple hits in half of those matches. He’s also posted an equal 6:6 K:BB ratio over that time as he’s been one of the better hitters on the Reds on the season with a .275/.375/.400 slash line.
Pirates: Nick Gonzales – Nicky G has been a hitting machine, tied for the 2nd most hits this month with a .944 OPS over 6 games. Since the All Star Break, Gonzales has been one of the most consistent parts of the lineup batting .306 across 77 plate appearances in that time.
Reds: Elly de la Cruz – Hopes of contending for the MVP a season after posted a 25 home run, 67 stolen base campaign may have been stymied by a sub-par second half where he is posting a .718 OPS (after a strong .854 mark in the first half) while struggling on defense as he has posted -3 Outs Above Average and -4 Defensive Runs Saved on the year.
Pirates: Oneil Cruz – From one Cruz to another, Oneil has been mired in a seriously deep slump as he has just 2 hits in his last 33 plate appearances and is hitless in his last 20 trips tp the plate. He’s been the victim of some bad luck (.067 BABIP despite a 97 MPH average exit velocity) but he’s been striking out far too much and not walking at all making for a bad combo when luck isn’t going your way.
Reds: Julian Aguiar, Ian Gibaut, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, Wade Miley, Carson Spiers, Brandon Williamson, Tyler Callihan
Pirates: Jared Jones, Justin Lawrence, Tim Mayza, Chase Shugart, Endy Rodriguez, Enmanuel Valdez
Notes
- On the season, the Reds have won 4 of 6 against the Pirates with one more series next month remaining between these two long-time rivals.
- Watch for Saturday’s starter as both Thomas Harrington and Johan Oviedo were optioned too recently to be recalled without an injury and no other starting pitchers remain on the 40-man in the minor leagues. It is possible the Pirates either run a bullpen game or add an arm to the 40-man ahead of the game.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes returns to PNC Park for the first time since being traded to the Cincinnati Reds at this year’s deadline. He made a big splash in his first game with the Red Legs, making a critical error and later hitting a 3-run home run but has overall been his usual self since his inter-division transition: a .579 OPS and making sparkling plays on defense
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