Sunday’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park brings together two National League Central teams aiming to gain ground and generate momentum after rocky starts to the 2025 campaign. The Pirates enter with a 5–10 record and have struggled mightily on the road, managing just two wins in eight away contests and showcasing the kind of inconsistencies that have kept them from stringing together any form of sustained success. Their struggles have been pronounced both at the plate and on the mound, and they’ll turn to right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski, who brings a 1–1 record and a 5.19 ERA into the series finale. Mlodzinski has had issues with pitch efficiency and command, often finding himself in high-leverage jams early in outings, and he’ll be tasked with neutralizing a Reds lineup that has shown flashes of power and speed. Meanwhile, the Reds come in at 7–8 and look slightly more stabilized despite their own early-season ups and downs. Their home record stands at 3–4, and they’ll counter with their most promising young arm in Hunter Greene, who has started the season on a high note with a 1.31 ERA and a 1–1 record, featuring overpowering fastballs and developing secondary pitches that have stifled opposing hitters. Greene’s ability to control the game from the mound gives Cincinnati a key advantage in what is expected to be a moderately low-scoring game, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs.

Offensively, the Pirates continue to search for identity, led by Oneil Cruz—a dynamic but inconsistent presence batting .211 with two home runs and seven stolen bases—and Joey Bart, who has provided stability behind the plate and in the batter’s box with a .282 average and seven RBIs. Cruz’s speed and raw power make him a constant threat, but his strikeout rate and plate discipline issues have limited his ability to be the offensive engine Pittsburgh desperately needs. The Reds, by contrast, are leaning on Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl, both of whom are contributing at a steady clip, with De La Cruz batting .250 alongside two home runs and seven RBIs, and Friedl offering a .245 average and key at-bats in crucial moments. Cincinnati’s issue has been maintaining offensive rhythm across nine innings, with untimely slumps from the middle of the order reducing the run support Greene and the pitching staff require to turn strong starts into wins. Injuries have played a part for both teams—Cincinnati has had to compensate for the absence of Alexis Díaz and Matt McLain, while Pittsburgh continues to juggle its bullpen options in response to depth concerns. The game itself stands as a critical pivot point for both teams, with the Reds hoping to leverage their home crowd and elite starting pitcher to pull to .500, while the Pirates will be desperate to escape their road woes and salvage something from the series. It’s a contest that may not headline the league’s marquee matchups, but with the division still wide open and both clubs hungry for identity, this game has all the ingredients of a tense, tightly fought battle that could hinge on a single swing, a bullpen misstep, or a clutch defensive play.