Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
PIT	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	7	12	1
CIN	2	0	1	2	0	0	0	3	—	8	12	0

Skenes (9-9, 3.90 ERA) took the ball for Pittsburgh looking to build on a strong close to July, while Hunter Greene (2-2, 7.09 ERA) got the assignment for a Reds team just trying to keep its head above .500. Skenes struck out 8 over 7 innings in a series-clinching win over the Guardians on July 19, arguably his best start of the second half. Greene has been all over the map this season — a disastrous 2026 debut against Baltimore, then flashes of the swing-and-miss stuff that made him an All-Star — and Friday was another mixed bag against a Pirates lineup pushing for a Wild Card spot.

Show fees

FINAL

Spread

ML

Total

Pirates(55-55)

LLLWW

7

-1.5+141-117o9.5+190

Reds(51-57)

WLWLP

8

+1.5-144+117u9.5-190

Best BetPirates -132

Postgame

Lost — the Reds erased the deficit late and won 8-7, so the Skenes-led moneyline price never cashed.

Pregame

Pittsburgh went off at a slight favorite on the road with Skenes lined up, and on paper that's the right side — his stuff and ERA edge over Greene were real. The Pirates just didn't cash it, giving up the lead late in a game where the better arm didn't finish the job.

Pittsburgh's lineup isn't at full strength. Oneil Cruz, Spencer Horwitz and catcher Rafael Flores Jr. are all out, and the Pirates are reportedly shopping for bullpen help before Monday's trade deadline instead of selling — a rare spot for this franchise. Cincinnati's problems run deeper than one shaky start from Greene, too. Terry Francona has said flatly his bullpen is stretched thin, and with Nick Lodolo, Brandon Williamson and Tony Santillan all on the injured list, the Reds are patching together a pitching staff on the fly.

Paul Skenes

(9-11)·3.88 ERA

Jul 25 vs Cubs

L

5.1IP

5ER

11K

2BB

105P

07/31 Lineup

Hunter Greene

(2-2)·6.83 ERA

Jul 25 @ Cardinals

L

5.1IP

6ER

3K

2BB

89P

07/31 Lineup

None of that mattered much once first pitch rolled around at 6:10 PM ET. Both offenses got going early and neither starter settled in, turning what looked like an ace-vs.-reclamation matchup into a track meet that went the distance.

Pittsburgh actually led for stretches of this one and still walked away with a loss, which about sums up the last week for a team that's dropped 3 of its last 5 heading into the trade deadline. The Reds, on the other hand, needed exactly this kind of ugly, resilient win — they'd split their previous four with Cleveland and are fighting just to stay in the conversation in a crowded NL Central.

Pittsburgh Pirates

(55-55)

Jul 30L@ Reds2-3

Jul 29Lvs Diamondbacks0-3

Jul 28Lvs Diamondbacks7-8

Jul 27Wvs Diamondbacks3-2

Jul 26Wvs Cubs8-7

Cincinnati Reds

(51-57)

Jul 30Wvs Pirates3-2

Jul 29Lvs Guardians1-6

Jul 28Wvs Guardians2-0

Jul 28Lvs Guardians5-6

Jul 27Pvs Guardians0-0

Pittsburgh Pirates

(6)

• 7-Day ILRafael Flores Jr. (C) — The Pirates placed Flores on the 7-day concussion injured list Friday.07/24
• 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz (1B) — Horwitz (hamstring) was diagnosed with a concussion Tuesday after being hit in the helmet with a pitch while on a rehab assignment at Single-A Bradenton, Aiden Stepansky of MLB.com reports.07/28
• 15-Day-ILEvan Sisk (RP) — Sisk (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILOneil Cruz (CF) — Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Cruz (hand) has been cleared for all baseball activities, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/29
• 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.07/21
• 60-Day-ILKonnor Griffin (SS) — The Pirates transferred Griffin (finger) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/11

Cincinnati Reds

(6)

• 10-Day-ILBlake Dunn (CF) — Dunn will undergo surgery on his right elbow Monday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.07/30
• 10-Day-ILSpencer Steer (1B) — Steer will wear a splint for the next two weeks after being diagnosed with a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his right wrist, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.07/27
• 15-Day-ILNick Lodolo (SP) — Lodolo (finger) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Friday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.07/30
• 15-Day-ILTony Santillan (RP) — Santillan (oblique) will undergo additional imaging Friday, MLB.com reports.07/30
• 60-Day-ILBrandon Williamson (SP) — Williamson (shoulder/finger) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Chattanooga, MLB.com reports.07/30
• 60-Day-ILGraham Ashcraft (RP) — Ashcraft (elbow) is on a throwing program, which will have him throw from 105 feet beginning July 20 at the Reds' training facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/18

Both rosters are stretched thin enough that neither team can afford many more nights like this. Pittsburgh needs Cruz and Horwitz back healthy to make good on its buyer's approach, and Cincinnati needs its rotation reinforcements to actually take the ball before the bullpen breaks down for good. For one night, at least, it was the Reds who found a way.