Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds match-up was full of action-packed plays and outstanding individual performances from Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes for the Pirates while Mitch Keller and Elly De La Cruz shone brightest for Cincinnati Reds.
The Reds’ pitching staff must focus on striking out more batters while restricting walks in order to prevent late-inning bullpen meltdowns.
In this article, we will discuss the main points or high lights of Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Match Player Stats.
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Ke’Bryan Hayes has not lived up to his first-round draft pedigree this season for the Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes has struggled at hitting this season and currently sits batting at an anemic.241 average with three homers and 21 RBI in 75 games played so far. Additionally, back issues have forced him out twice this year with no clear timetable set for his return – leaving his team scrambling for backup at that position if Hayes stays out longer than expected.
The Reds and Pirates are two iconic teams in baseball, and their matches often produce some of its most unforgettable moments. Both sides are known for producing tight contests with key offensive plays from both teams as well as outstanding pitching performances by Luis Castillo and Mitch Keller while Joey Votto and Nick Castellanos made key contributions at bat. On June 19, these qualities were on full display as Luis Castillo pitched superbly while Mitch Keller led him in impressive pitching performances while Votto made key contributions at bat as Luis Castillo pitched impressively and Mitch Keller pitched superbly while Joey Votto and Castellanos made key contributions in both pitches and pitching performances by Luis Castillo and Mitch Keller combined to produce outstanding pitching performances, while Joey Votto made key contributions at bat.
Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Pittsburgh Pirates was activated from their 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against Detroit Tigers, after he has failed to live up to expectations as a first-round prospect this year slashing only.240/.322/.318 with one home run and seven doubles over 75 games played. Hayes had been out since early April with back issues; however, due to this decision no minor league rehab assignment will be assigned either.
The Pittsburgh Pirates feature a right-handed heavy lineup and have difficulty hitting against left-handed pitchers, making them susceptible to strategy by other teams attempting to counter them by starting lefties instead of righties and neutralizing their strengths. However, there are players such as Bryan Reynolds who can bat both lefty and righty pitchers.
Mitch Keller
Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds met for an exciting, high-intensity contest in June 2024 that was packed with high-impact plays and standout individual performances from each team. Bryan Reynolds and Ke’Bryan Hayes provided strong batting performances for Pittsburgh while Mitch Keller held his ground on the mound; Joey Votto and Elly De La Cruz powered up Cincinnati with solid offensive outputs for themselves and the Reds respectively.
Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo of the Reds’ top prospects also contributed significantly to a stellar offensive display, while both teams’ pitching staffs demonstrated their strengths; ultimately the game was decided by a clutch hit in the ninth inning.
As much as the Pirates possess a deep rotation, Reds pitchers tend to be less reliable and their inconsistency can frustrate offensive teams; failing to generate solid contact could prove disastrous against an elite Pittsburgh lineup.
Conversely, Pittsburgh starters have proven effective at striking out batters using various pitches and strategies. To overcome Reds top prospects effectively, Pittsburgh pitchers must keep batters off balance and limit home runs as effectively as possible.
Keller struggled with his control during his most recent start but still managed to strike out six batters for a 4-2 lead before the Pirates bullpen allowed six runs in three innings to give him no decision and an eventual no-decision result. Still, Keller improved his record to 11-10 with 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP since All-Star break, hoping to continue that successful performance against Reds on Saturday.
Elly De La Cruz
Elly De La Cruz joined Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson as only three MLB players in history to steal 100 bases during their first two seasons. On Saturday, De La Cruz earned this distinction when his Cincinnati Reds side won 7-1 over Pittsburgh Pirates to complete their three-game sweep. De La Cruz notched one home run and drove in four runs during this historic victory over his Pittsburgh opponents.
Elly hit a two-run homer off Pirates right-hander Jared Jones to give the Reds a four-run edge in the fourth inning and finished 3-for-5 with four RBI on his day – leading his team to victory 5-1! Elly is one of the key components to their offense this season and currently boasts a five-game hitting streak!
He is both the team’s top hitter and second-leading RBI producer, as well as one of their most prolific contributors since joining in 2024. Batting at career high.260 this season with 24 homers and 70 RBI, and with the potential of breaking into the top three of NL MVP voting alongside Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor, this batsman may very well finish in that top tier of awards voting for 2025.
This season, the Reds boast a 23-18 record when favored by at least -127 and sportsbooks have projected that there is a 55.9% chance that Cincinnati would defeat Pittsburgh Pirates. They still have an opportunity to reach the playoffs with a winning record; their final regular season matchup will be against Philadelphia Phillies on September 25 and it promises to be an exhilarating battle filled with big hits and impressive pitching performances! Stay tuned for updates regarding this game that could decide the fate of both franchises!
Joey Votto
Joey Votto has developed into one of the most consistent players in baseball over the last decade thanks to his unique combination of abilities. A smart, thoughtful hitter who also acts as a leader and teammate. Votto is widely respected by his fellow MLBers.
Votto was initially an unknown when drafted by the Reds in 2006, yet went on to become their starting first baseman. His talent quickly emerged though and would go on to lead them in hitting and on-base percentage over his 17 year career – also placing among their leaders for homers and RBI totals.
Votto hasn’t been the same player since suffering a grade III knee ligament tear while sliding into third base in June 2012. As a result, Votto missed all of 2012 and underwent surgery for this serious injury, severely restricting his power output and leading to his indefinite absence from MLB games.
After being released by the Reds after they declined his club option for 2024, he is currently free agent and may sign a minor league deal somewhere; but, given that he will turn 40 in 2019, his days as a starter may well be behind him.
Still capable of producing solid average and counting stats, but now entering his decline phase. His power is decreasing while plate discipline has suffered as well, no longer making him an appealing target in higher-end fantasy formats like the NFBC; you should likely let go and seek replacement players for your lineups.
Hunter Greene
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds have had an enduring rivalry spanning more than 135 years. Both teams have produced many Hall-of-Famer players, making this matchup one of great excitement and anticipation. Both clubs feature talented rosters; however, pitching staff will ultimately determine who wins this game; for instance the Pittsburgh Pirates boast strong starters such as Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller while Ke’Bryan Hayes and Elly De La Cruz of Cincinnati boast powerful bats to choose from in PNC Park while Great American Ballpark offer equally beautiful settings with stunning views for either team to meet up!
Greene has been outstanding this season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 146.1 innings while striking out 162:54 batters-batters against. However, his innings were limited due to injuries – most significantly an elbow issue which kept him sidelined for much of 2016. On Tuesday he is set to throw live batting practice sessions, so could potentially return by the final weekend of regular season playback.
Both teams are competing for the last wild card spot in the National League and this game will serve as an important test for both. While the Reds currently lead, their opponent the Pirates have recently been performing well and should take an advantage here due to similar offensive styles; both will need to utilize at-bats efficiently in order to prevent late inning bullpen meltdowns; also required will be playing solid defense to prevent costly errors, with both teams currently ranking among the top three for fielding percentage. The Pirates currently lead with 39% while their opponents come close behind with 21% while third and 24% respectively in fielding percentage among other league.
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