The Cincinnati Reds are on the verge of being swept at home by the last placed Pittsburgh Pirates and are one game back of the New York Mets for the final NL wild card spot with just four games remaining. The Reds will get a pass for last night’s loss because they had to face the best pitcher on the planet, Paul Skenes. Today is a must-win for the Big Red Machine and they know it. Cincinnati will finish the season against the best team in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers, in Milwaukee and that won’t be easy. Today’s expected starters are lefty Nick Lodolo for the Reds and rookie Braxton Ashcraft for the Pirates. Lodolo is 8-8 with a 3.44 ERA and an excellent WHIP of 1.08. He last faced the Pirates back in May, allowing just one run over six innings of work and Cincinnati went on to an easy 7-1 win. Ashcraft has pitched well, with a record of 4-3, a 2.62 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Cincinnati has not been swept at Great American Ball Park all year; don’t make this the first.
TODAY’S PICK: CINCINNATI REDS