The Reds are making their move in the NL Wild Card race, and they’ll try to keep it rolling against the Pirates on “Friday Night Baseball.”
Cincinnati has found its groove under Terry Francona, staying firmly in the hunt for their first postseason berth since 2020. The offense has been clicking behind shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who’s on pace for a career-best .832 OPS. They also got a nice boost at the deadline when they acquired former Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
The Reds hit six games over .500 earlier this week — a new season high. That’s exactly what you want to see from a team that seems to be peaking at the right time.
Pittsburgh was selling at the deadline, but they’ve still got enough pieces to play spoiler. Veteran right-hander Mitch Keller gets the ball Friday night, and despite drawing plenty of trade interest, he’s still wearing a Pirates uniform. Sure, his record sits at 5-10, but don’t let that fool you — he’s got a solid 3.89 ERA and shut down the Reds back in May, allowing just one earned run over six innings.
How to Watch Pirates vs. Reds
You won’t find this one on traditional TV. Pirates vs. Reds streams exclusively on Apple TV+, which has been home to “Friday Night Baseball” all season long.
Apple TV+ offers a seven-day free trial if you’re new to the service. After that, it’s $9.99 per month. You can access it through the Apple TV+ app on most streaming devices, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
Game Details
- Date: Friday, August 8
- Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
This is the second game of a four-game series between these clubs.
Remaining Friday Night Baseball Schedule
Here’s what’s left on the “Friday Night Baseball” slate for the rest of the season:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 8 | Reds at Pirates | 6:40 p.m. |
| Astros at Yankees | 7:05 p.m. | |
| Aug. 15 | Brewers at Reds | 6:40 p.m. |
| Rangers at Blue Jays | 7:07 p.m. | |
| Aug. 22 | Royals at Tigers | 7:10 p.m. |
| Mets at Braves | 7:15 p.m. | |
| Aug. 29 | Braves at Phillies | 6:45 p.m. |
| Orioles at Giants | 10:15 p.m. | |
| Sept. 5 | Nationals at Cubs | 2:20 p.m. |
| Brewers at Pirates | 6:40 p.m. | |
| Sept. 12 | Yankees at Red Sox | 7:10 p.m. |
| Angels at Mariners | 10:10 p.m. | |
| Sept. 19 | Blue Jays at Royals | 7:40 p.m. |
| Giants at Dodgers | 10:10 p.m. | |
| Sept. 26 | Tigers at Red Sox | 7:10 p.m. |
The way I see it, tonight’s matchup could tell us a lot about where both teams are heading down the stretch. Cincinnati’s got momentum and the look of a team that believes it can make something happen. Pittsburgh might be out of contention, but there’s nothing quite like playing spoiler to a division rival.
