September 23, 2025
Game Preview

Written by: Ryan Chen

Ryan combines advanced statistics with traditional scouting to identify profitable betting opportunities.


Pirates vs Reds: Betting Preview & Props (Sep 23)

Last updated: September 23, 2025

Game Time: 9/23, 06:40PM

Today's Setup

The Pittsburgh Pirates face off against the Cincinnati Reds in what promises to be an exciting matchup. With the Reds favored at -157 and 89% of the money backing them, the Pirates come in as +128 underdogs. This game pits two contrasting pitching styles against each other, with both teams seeking to exploit lineup vulnerabilities.

Starting Pitching Analysis

Pitching Matchup: Johan Oviedo vs Brady Singer

Johan Oviedo (PIT):

  • Arsenal: Four-Seam Fastball (38% usage, 95.4 mph), Slider (32% usage, 86.9 mph), Curveball (16% usage, 77.9 mph), Sinker (9% usage, 95.1 mph), Changeup (4% usage, 88.0 mph)
  • Interpretation: Oviedo relies heavily on velocity and a strong fastball-slider combination.
  • Matchup Insight: The Reds lineup averages .247 this season with a projected xBA of .240 against Oviedo's mix.

Brady Singer (CIN):

  • Arsenal: Sinker (40% usage, 92.2 mph), Slider (30% usage, 82.5 mph), Four-Seam (11% usage, 91.3 mph), Cutter (10% usage, 87.5 mph), Sweeper (8% usage, 81.5 mph)
  • Interpretation: Singer is a pitch-mix artist, leaning on his sinker-slider duo to induce ground balls.
  • Matchup Insight: The Pirates lineup averages .245 this season with a projected xBA of .258 against Singer's repertoire.

Lineup Matchups

Lineup Matchups & Batting Edges

  • Pirates vs Brady Singer:
- The Pirates lineup averages .245 this season but projects to .258 against Singer's arsenal. - Biggest Increase: Andrew McCutchen: Season BA .240 → xBA vs arsenal .285 (+45 points), Season K% 21.5% → Arsenal K% 21.5% (steady) - Biggest Decrease: Oneil Cruz: Season BA .263 → xBA vs arsenal .248 (-15 points), Season K% 26.0% → Arsenal K% 30.4% (+4.4%)

  • Reds vs Johan Oviedo:
- The Reds lineup averages .247 this season but projects to .240 against Oviedo's arsenal. - Biggest Increase: Will Benson: Season BA .228 → xBA vs arsenal .291 (+63 points), Season K% 26.1% → Arsenal K% 30.2% (+4.1%) - Biggest Decrease: Elly Cruz: Season BA .263 → xBA vs arsenal .233 (-30 points), Season K% 26.0% → Arsenal K% 32.9% (+6.9%)

K-Risk Analysis

Strikeout Risks & Rewards

  • Pirates K-Risk: The Pirates' projected K-rate is 21.8% vs Singer — down 0.2% from their 22.0% season average.
  • Reds K-Risk: The Reds' projected K-rate is 27.4% vs Oviedo — up 4.0% from their 23.4% season average.

Behind the Plate

Behind the Plate: Umpire assignment has not been announced, which makes prop volatility a concern.

What to Bet On

📢 Prop Alert: Andrew McCutchen (.240 → .285, +45 points) meets betting lean criteria!

K Prop Alert: Johan Oviedo strikeout OVER - Reds' K-rate jumps to 27.4% vs this arsenal!

🔑 Key Takeaways

  • Andrew McCutchen and Will Benson have notable batting advantages against today's pitchers.
  • Johan Oviedo presents a strong strikeout opportunity against a high K-rate Reds lineup.
  • The absence of an umpire announcement adds an element of uncertainty to prop bets.
  • Overall, betting leans favor Pirates' batter Andrew McCutchen and Reds' pitcher Johan Oviedo for strikeout props.

🧠 FAQs

Q: Who is the best betting prop for the Pirates vs Reds game? A: Andrew McCutchen stands out with a significant increase in expected batting average against Brady Singer.

Q: Is the umpire a pitcher-friendly umpire? A: Umpire assignment has not been announced, making this aspect uncertain.

Q: What time is the Pirates vs Reds game? A: The game starts at 9/23, 06:40PM.

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