Pirates Preview: Bucs Go for Third in a Row, Series Win

Danny Demilio |

Aug 9, 2025

Dennis Santana, Pittsburgh Pirates — Photo provided by Matt Lynch

The Pittsburgh Pirates rallied late for a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Friday night.

Bryan Reynolds delivered a clutch two-run triple in the bottom of the eighth inning and Dennis Santana converted his seventh save of the season to preserve the win.

The Pirates (51-66) will look to make it three wins in a row and notch a series win against the Reds (60-57) on Saturday night.

First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Temperatures in the mid-to-low 80s around first pitch with sunny skies overhead. Winds SE at 4 mph.

RHP Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 3.24 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Ashcraft will make the second start of his career. The 25-year-old started against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 26 and threw three-scoreless innings.

Ashcraft has struggled in his first two appearances to begin August. He’s allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings after allowing just four runs in six appearances in July.

The right-hander’s 0.27 home runs per nine innings rate is the lowest among MLB rookies to log at least 30 innings. He ranks ninth among National League rookies in ERA.

This will be his first time pitching against the Reds.

RHP Nick Martinez (9-9, 4.66 ERA) Will Start for the Reds

Martinez’s last outing was his third relief appearances this season. The right-hander allowed two runs in 2.1 innings.

Martinez has allowed exactly two runs in each of his last five appearances and has a 3.80 ERA over that stretch. The Reds are 5-0 in those games.

Martinez has won each of his last three decisions and five of his last six dating back to June 27.

The Pirates managed one run across six innings against Martinez on May 20. In seven career appearances against Pittsburgh, Martinez is 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA.

Reds Hitters vs. Ashcraft

Pirates Hitters vs. Martinez

Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 12, two strikeouts, two walks
Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 11, one home run, three RBI, four strikeouts
Joey Bart: 2 for 10, one double, one RBI, five strikeouts
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 2 for 6, one RBI, two strikeouts
Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, two walks, two strikeouts
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, one double, one walk, three strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 5, one strikeout
Spencer Horwitz: 4 for 4, one double, one home run, two RBI, one walk
Nick Gonzales: 1 for 4, one strikeout

Tidbits

The Pirates are now 3-54 this season when trailing after seven innings. Two of those three runs have come during this homestand.
Bryan Reynolds has multiple hits in four of seven games played this month. He’s batting .346 (9 for 26) in August.
Kyle Nicolas (1-0) was the winning pitcher for the Pirates on Friday. It was his first win since Aug. 3, 2024 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.