Reds vs Pirates Prediction, Pick and Preview, September 14 (9/14): MLB

Credit: photo by Joe Puetz-USA TODAY Sports

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Preview

Tonight the Reds travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates. The Reds come into this game 0.5 games ahead of the Padres for the second NL wilcard spot. They benefit tonight from facing a weak Pirates team and they will look to pick up some easy wins to further their hold on that wildcard spot. The Pirates come into this game with no hopes for the offseason as they have been abysmal all year. They've been one of the worst teams in baseball and they'll continue to get some looks at younger guys as this season comes to a close.

Pitching matchup

Reds

Wade Miley (12-5, 2.89 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds when they take on the Pirates.  Miley enters this game with a 1.25 WHIP and 4.24 XFIP.  This season he carries an 18.8% strikeout rate paired with a 7.2% walk rate.  Miley has been good this year limiting hard contact, and keeping the ball on the ground evidenced by his 50.9% groundball rate.  He comes into this game off a nice outting against the Cubs where he went 7 innings, striking out 8 hitters, while allowing only 1 earned run.  The veteran lefty looks to pick up his 13th win of the season against a weak depleted Pirates team.

Pirates

Dillon Peters (0-2, 3.38 ERA) will be on the bump for the Pirates when they take on the visiting Reds.  Peters comes into this game with a 1.29 WHIP and and ugly 5.29 XFIP. This season he boasts an 18.5% strikeout rate paired with an 8.6% walk rate. Peters has been decent so far with the Pirates but the numbers show that he's due for some regression. He enters this game with only a 15% strikeout rate against righties and that's paired with a 10% walk rate. The Reds should be able to roll out 7-8 right handed hitters today so Peters could be in for a long day.  

Prediction

I'll be rolling with the better team in this one in the Reds.  They should have no problem getting after Peters and this poor Pirates bullpen. Miley should handle this Pirates lineup with ease and cruise to another win.

PICK: Reds -1.5 (+100)

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