Probable Pitchers: RHP Connor Burns (CIN) vs. RHP Jared Jones (PIT)
Location: PNC Park – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
First Pitch: 4:05 PM ET
Broadcast: Bally Sports Ohio / SportsNet Pittsburgh / MLB.TV
Venue Profile – PNC Park
Type: Outdoor
Capacity: ~38,700
Dimensions:
LF: 325 ft
CF: 399 ft
RF: 320 ft (short porch, high wall)
Ballpark Factors:
Boosts left‑handed power
Suppresses deep right‑center HRs
Excellent hitters’ backdrop
Impact:
Favors Reds’ left‑handed bats (De La Cruz, Fraley)
Jones’ fly‑ball tendencies can be risky here
Weather Forecast – Pittsburgh, PA
Temperature: 77–80°F
Wind: 8–11 mph blowing out to right
Humidity: Moderate
Conditions: Mostly sunny
Impact:
Boost to left‑handed power hitters
Slightly hitter‑friendly environment
Good day for doubles and HRs to RF
Injury Report
Cincinnati Reds
Elly De La Cruz – ACTIVE
Spencer Steer – ACTIVE
Christian Encarnacion‑Strand – OUT (wrist)
TJ Friedl – DAY‑TO‑DAY (hamstring)
Hunter Greene – OUT (shoulder)
Pittsburgh Pirates
Oneil Cruz – ACTIVE
Ke’Bryan Hayes – ACTIVE
Henry Davis – DAY‑TO‑DAY (thumb)
Mitch Keller – OUT (forearm)
David Bednar – OUT (lat strain)
Probable Pitchers
Cincinnati – RHP Connor Burns
2026 Season: 4–5, 4.28 ERA, 1.31 WHIP
Last 5 Starts: 2–2, 3.94 ERA
Strengths:
Good slider
Generates weak contact
Strong vs. right‑handed hitters
Concerns:
Can be homer‑prone
Pirates’ left‑handed bats (Cruz, Suwinski) match up well
Pittsburgh – RHP Jared Jones
2026 Season: 6–6, 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
Last 5 Starts: 3–1, 3.22 ERA
Strengths:
Elite fastball/slider combo
High strikeout rate
Excellent at home (3.12 ERA at PNC)
Concerns:
Fly‑ball pitcher in a park with wind blowing out
Reds’ lineup is aggressive early in counts
Team Records & Recent Form
Cincinnati Reds (38–42)
Last 10: 4–6
Road Record: 17–23
Run Differential: -22
Trend: Offense inconsistent; pitching stabilizing but lacks depth
Pittsburgh Pirates (41–41)
Last 10: 6–4
Home Record: 22–18
Run Differential: -5
Trend: Rotation improving; offense streaky but dangerous at home
Series History
2025 Season Series: Reds won 9–10
2026 Season Series: Pirates lead 2–1
At PNC Park (last 20): Pirates lead 11–9
Key Trend: Games between these teams often feature late‑inning swings due to volatile bullpens
Key Player Matchups
Elly De La Cruz (CIN) vs. Jared Jones
Edge: Even
De La Cruz can punish high velocity, but Jones’ slider is a real problem. If Elly controls the strike zone, he can change the game.
Oneil Cruz (PIT) vs. Connor Burns
Edge: Pittsburgh
Cruz crushes right‑handed pitching and thrives at PNC with wind blowing out. Burns’ homer‑prone tendencies are a concern.
Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT) vs. Reds’ Infield Defense
Edge: Pittsburgh
Hayes’ line‑drive approach plays well against Cincinnati’s average infield range.
Spencer Steer (CIN) vs. Pirates’ Bullpen
Edge: Cincinnati
With Bednar out, Pittsburgh’s late‑inning relief is vulnerable. Steer excels in high‑leverage spots.
Statistical Comparison
| Category | Reds | Pirates | Edge |
| Runs/Game | 4.31 | 4.44 | Pirates |
| Team ERA | 4.32 | 4.18 | Pirates |
| Bullpen ERA | 4.41 | 4.29 | Pirates |
| HR | 88 | 82 | Reds |
| OPS | .714 | .721 | Pirates |
| Defensive Runs Saved | +5 | +11 | Pirates |
Pirates hold slight advantages across most categories.
Betting Trends
Pirates are 7–3 in their last 10 home games
Reds are 3–7 in their last 10 road games
Pirates overs have hit in 6 of last 9
Reds unders have hit in 5 of last 8
Jones has a 3.22 ERA in his last 5 starts
Game Odds
Cincinnati Reds – 116
Pittsburgh Pirates 8
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, June 26, 2026
