Do not miss this exciting opportunity for MLB betting in Tennessee, as the Cincinnati Reds (60-57) and Pittsburgh Pirates (52-63) square off for game one of their divisional three-game showdown in Pennsylvania. Can the Pirates continue their dominance at home?

When: Game 1 on August 11, 2023 at 7:05 PM ET

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Cincinnati Reds Preview

The Reds are currently tied for second in the NL Central along with the Chicago Cubs and are 2.5 games back from the leading Milwaukee Brewers. They are 1-4 over their last five games, which is not a good sign as they face a divisional rival. Andrew Abbott will give his best on the mound for game one and is 6-3 this year (ERA 2.93, WHIP 1.15).

They seem to possess a promising chance at the plate, boasting a batting average of .250. Nonetheless, their adversaries manage to maintain an average of .261, which is likely holding them back from being a great team this year.

In addition to having good opportunities at the plate, they are respectable in getting on base with a .327 on-base percentage. However, their pitching is concerning, with an ERA of 4.83, which is worse than the Pirates.

The Reds have gone 2-8 over their last 10 games, which is one of the worst times to be struggling. They are 31-26 on the road and 13-16 as the favorite with their run line.

Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

The Pirates are slowly remaining in contention for the playoffs, but they are currently 9.5 games back in fourth place behind the Brewers. They have gone 3-2 over their most recent five games, with two of those against the Atlanta Braves (best team in MLB). Johan Oviedo gets the start at pitcher, but is 6-11 this year (4.18 ERA, 1.30 WHIP).

They are not as strong at the plate as the Reds, with a .237 batting average. However, they show a better effort at slowing down opponents, as they allow .254, which is slightly better than the Reds.

Their on-base percentage is slightly lower when compared to the Reds, at .313. But, their ERA is easier to tolerate at 4.55 and could be crucial to this game.

The Pirates have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games and have an opportunity to inch closer to the division lead. They are 28-30 at home and 49-44 as the underdog with their run line.

Betting Odds

ZenSports Tennessee sportsbook gives you the best opportunity to bet on MLB in Tennessee on this matchup. The following odds show that this is a coin flip, with the Reds as slight favorites to win this matchup.

Pittsburgh Pirates: -102

Cincinnati Reds: -118

Totals: Over 9 (-115), Under 9 (-105)

These two have met a total of seven times this year, with the Pirates leading 5-2. Over the span of those games, the Pirates have scored 20 runs and the Reds have accumulated 19.

Photo Credit: © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK