The Ohio River connects them. It’s about 290 miles of murky water and a century of shared baseball resentment. When the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates see each other on the schedule, it’s not just another 162-game-season obligation. Honestly, it feels like a family feud where everyone remembers who took the last piece of pie in 1992.
Baseball has changed. We have Statcast now. We track bat speed and launch angles. But you can't quantify the vibe at PNC Park or Great American Ball Park when these two teams get into it. It’s gritty. It's often ugly. It is, quite literally, the definition of NL Central baseball.
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The Geography of a Grudge
It’s easy to look at the Yankees and Red Sox or the Dodgers and Giants and think that’s all baseball has to offer in terms of drama. That’s a mistake. The Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates matchup is built on a different kind of foundation. It’s built on proximity. Fans from southeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania cross borders constantly. You’ll see a black-and-yellow jersey in a sea of red, and things get loud.
Why does it sting so much? Maybe because they’re essentially the same city in different fonts. Both are historic, river-front towns that have seen the highest of highs and some pretty brutal lows.
Back in the 1970s, this wasn’t just a regional spat; it was the battle for the National League. The Big Red Machine vs. The Family. We are talking about Johnny Bench, Pete Rose, and Joe Morgan squaring off against Willie Stargell and Roberto Clemente. Between 1970 and 1979, these two teams combined for nine NL East/West titles. They met in the NLCS five times in that decade. That isn't just a rivalry. It’s a decade-long war for supremacy.
That 2013 Wild Card Game Still Lingers
If you ask a Pirates fan about the most electric moment in the last twenty years, they won’t hesitate. October 1, 2013. The "Cueto" chant.
It was the NL Wild Card game. Johnny Cueto, the Reds' ace, was on the mound. The Pittsburgh crowd was a literal sea of black. They started chanting his name. Cue-to... Cue-to... It was rhythmic. It was haunting. And then, the impossible happened—Cueto actually dropped the ball. Literally. It slipped out of his hand and rolled off the mound. The stadium exploded. On the very next pitch, Russell Martin launched a home run.
Cincinnati fans still haven't forgotten that. It’s the kind of moment that defines a generation of fans. It proved that in this specific matchup, the crowd is actually the tenth man on the field.
The Modern Era: Youth vs. Rebuilds
Fast forward to right now. The landscape looks a bit different, but the tension is identical. Both front offices have been through the ringer. Fans in both cities have been vocal about ownership, spending, and the "small market" label that gets slapped on them by national media.
But look at the rosters. You’ve got Elly De La Cruz for the Reds—a human highlight reel who can seemingly run from first to third in three strides. On the other side, the Pirates have built a rotation around arms like Paul Skenes, who throws gas that makes seasoned hitters look like they’re swinging underwater.
When Skenes faces De La Cruz, it’s not just a game in May or August. It’s a glimpse into the future of the sport. It's the kind of matchup that makes you put down your phone.
Why the "Small Market" Narrative is Lazy
People love to say these teams can’t compete because they don’t have the payroll of the Mets or the Dodgers. That’s a boring take. It ignores the scouting and the player development. The Reds have consistently turned out high-level infielders. The Pirates have a knack for finding pitching value in places others don't look.
The real issue isn't the money; it's the consistency. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance followed by years of "retooling." That's what makes their head-to-head games so vital. If you want to win the NL Central, you don't beat the Brewers by outspending them—you beat the Pirates or the Reds by dominating your backyard.
The Brawl Culture
We have to talk about it. The bad blood.
There was that massive 2019 brawl. You remember it—Amir Garrett literally charging the entire Pirates dugout by himself. It was surreal. Usually, baseball fights involve a lot of standing around and "hold me back" posturing. Not that day. That was years of built-up frustration boiling over.
Managers like David Bell and Derek Shelton have had to navigate these waters carefully. There’s a fine line between playing "hard" and headhunting. In the Cincinnati Reds Pittsburgh Pirates rivalry, that line gets blurred once or twice a season. It’s why people watch. It's why the ratings for these games in the local markets are usually through the roof compared to a random game against the Marlins.
Pitching in the Pressure Cooker
PNC Park is arguably the most beautiful stadium in baseball. Great American Ball Park is a "hitter's park" where a fly ball in July has a funny way of carrying over the fence. This creates a fascinating tactical divide.
Pittsburgh pitchers have to learn to use that deep left field to their advantage. Cincinnati pitchers have to be masters of the ground ball. When the Pirates travel to Cincy, their power hitters like Oneil Cruz lick their chops. When the Reds go to Pittsburgh, their pitchers breathe a sigh of relief because the park doesn't give up cheap homers.
- Reds Strategy: Use speed. Pressure the defense. Force the Pirates' young arms to make quick decisions.
- Pirates Strategy: Lean on the power arms. Force the Reds to beat you with three singles rather than a three-run blast.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that this rivalry is "dead" because neither team is currently a dynasty. Baseball isn't just about dynasties. It’s about the 19-year-old kid from Dayton who grows up hating the Pirates because his dad did. It's about the season ticket holder in Section 112 in Pittsburgh who still talks about the 1990 NLCS.
The Reds have five World Series titles. The Pirates have five. They are historically two of the most successful franchises in the history of the National League. To treat them like bottom-feeders just because they aren't the Braves is a lack of historical perspective.
The "Rust Belt" tag is often used as a pejorative. It shouldn't be. It represents a work ethic and a loyalty that you don't find in many other fanbases. You won't see these fans leaving in the 7th inning to beat traffic. They stay until the last out, mostly so they can yell at the umpire one last time.
Looking Ahead: The Next Three Years
The window is opening for both teams. The Reds' core of De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Hunter Greene is maturing. They are flashy and aggressive. The Pirates, meanwhile, are betting on a "pitching first" philosophy that could make them a nightmare in a short playoff series.
If you are a betting person, keep an eye on the head-to-head record. Over the last few seasons, it’s been remarkably even. This isn't a situation where one team owns the other. It’s a seesaw.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re heading to a game or just watching from your couch, here is how to actually analyze this matchup like a pro:
- Watch the Bullpen Usage: In this rivalry, games are rarely blowouts. They are decided in the 7th and 8th innings. If the Reds have used their high-leverage arms two days in a row, the Pirates have a massive edge, regardless of who is starting.
- The "Day After" Effect: These teams play with a lot of emotion. Frequently, a heated night game leads to a very "flat" day game the next afternoon. Look for the under in those 1:00 PM starts following a night of high tension.
- The Cruz/De La Cruz Factor: Pay attention to the exit velocity. These two are some of the hardest hitters in the league. If the wind is blowing out at Great American Ball Park, no lead is safe.
- Check the Turf: The humidity in the Ohio Valley in August is no joke. It wears down pitchers faster than in other climates. Late-season series between these two often turn into offensive track meets because the starters gass out by the 85th pitch.
The Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates might not always be the lead story on national sports networks, but for those who live along the river, it's the only story that matters. It’s baseball in its purest, most territorial form. Whether it’s a random Tuesday in May or a high-stakes September push, expect fireworks. Expect a little bit of chirping from the dugouts. And most of all, expect the unexpected, because history has shown that when these two teams meet, the record books go out the window and the heart takes over.
To stay ahead of the curve on this rivalry, track the injury reports for the starting rotations specifically. In these series, a single "spot start" from a Triple-A call-up usually results in a lopsided score, given how well these divisional opponents know each other's tendencies. Monitor the waiver wire and the 40-man roster moves in the week leading up to their three-game sets; that’s where the real advantage is found.