Cincinnati Reds Return Home To Face Pirates. Two Weeks Until NFL Draft, Bengals Targets at Pick 17

The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates kick off a three-game series at Great American Ball Park this weekend, April 11-13, 2025, with both teams looking to climb out of the NL Central basement. Tied for last place, this matchup feels like a generational clash of two franchises struggling to recapture past glory. The Reds, favored slightly at -155 for Friday’s opener, aim to capitalize on home-field advantage, while the Pirates, at +129, hope to spoil the party.

Friday’s game sets the tone with Reds’ right-hander Brady Singer facing Pittsburgh’s lefty Bailey Falter. Singer, projected to anchor Cincinnati’s rotation, looks to exploit a Pirates offense averaging a meager 2.6 runs over their last five games, with a .198 batting average and just one homer in their past three. Falter, coming off a rough outing against the Yankees, allowed seven runs, but his earlier start showed promise with only two earned runs over six innings. The Reds’ lineup, led by Elly De La Cruz’s .250 average and 12 RBI, will test Falter’s ability to rebound. TJ Friedl and Jose Trevino add depth, though Cincinnati’s 26th-ranked .231 team average last season suggests inconsistency.

Saturday’s 6:40 p.m. ET clash and Sunday’s 1:40 p.m. ET finale remain murkier, with Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski slated for Sunday but no Reds starter confirmed. Cincinnati’s rotation faces challenges, with Andrew Abbott potentially returning from injury, but their pitching staff boasts a 3.15 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, a clear edge over Pittsburgh’s sputtering offense. The Pirates dodge a bullet missing Paul Skenes, whose absence leaves their rotation thinner. Pittsburgh’s -19 run differential, worst in the NL Central, underscores their early-season woes.

Both teams have injury concerns: Cincinnati’s Matt McLain, Tyler Stephenson, and others are sidelined, while Pittsburgh’s Johan Oviedo remains out. Yet, this series feels like a chance for the Reds to make a statement. Their losses have been close, unlike Pittsburgh’s blowouts. With Friday’s game on Apple TV+ and the weekend on FanDuel Sports Ohio, fans can expect tight, low-scoring affairs—Vegas sets the over/under at 8.5 runs for Friday. De La Cruz’s speed and power could tilt the scales, but Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds might counter if he finds his groove. Expect a gritty, pivotal series as both teams fight for early momentum.