APRIL 5 FREE MLB PICK

Cincinnati Reds at Pittsburgh Pirates 7:05pm EST

Projected Starters: Reds: Homer Bailey vs Pirates: Steven Brault 

Reds starter Homer Bailey is 6-2 all time when pitching at PNC Park with an 2.48 earned run average there. Bailey was impressive in the season opener against a Washington Nationals team that has owned him in the past. In that game Bailey went six innings and allowed only one run, on the way to a 2-0 defeat.

The Reds opened the season being swept by the Nationals at home, then they came back to beat the Cubs 1-0 in the only game of that series. The second game of the series was postponed Tuesday, and then the Reds were off yesterday, so Cincinnati is coming into this game with a rare two days off.

The Pittsburgh Pirates swept the Detroit Tigers to open their season, in a weird series were two games were originally postponed, which forced one double header. The Pirates won the season opener of that series 13-10 with the help of a very controversial call. After the 3-0 start, the Pirates split a two game series with the Twins.

Pirates projected starter, Steven Brault picked up the win in relief of the 13-10 victory over the Tigers. Brault has only made 11 career starts. He is 2-3 with a career earned run average of 4.56 and WHIP of 1.69.

With the +124 value on the Reds, you need to win just 46% of games to come ahead. With the Pirates currently -135 favorites  you would have to win 57% of your bets to profit.

These are division rivals who I feel are pretty even. The Reds are only 1-3 right now, while the Pirates are 4-1. However, the Reds have had a more difficult schedule so far. These teams will go back and forth this season and tonight the value is on the Reds.

My Pick: Cincinnati Reds Money Line