It’s rare that the Cincinnati Reds are as heavy favorites as they are for Friday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
But with Luis Castillo facing a pitcher who’s bounced between the minors and MLB over the last five seasons, Cincinnati is a nearly 2-to-1 favorite (-182) to take the first game of the four game series.
There’s a lot at stake in Pittsburgh as the Reds enter the series with a 35 percent chance to make the playoffs, per FiveThirtyEight.
Here is what you need to know heading into Friday’s seven-inning doubleheader.