Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates LIVE MLB Postgame Show Chatterbox | Podcast, Recap, Highlights
Nick Kirby and Craig Sandlin will be LIVE in the 9th inning.
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In the sweltering confines of Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds (80-78) face a do-or-die afternoon showdown against the Pittsburgh Pirates (69-89) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 12:40 p.m. ET. This rubber match of a three-game set—broadcast on MLB Network, FDSOH, and SportsNet PT—carries massive weight for the Reds, who sit on the razor’s edge of the NL Wild Card race. A loss would drop them two games back with just five contests remaining, potentially slamming the postseason door shut after a gritty September surge that included a season-high five-game win streak snapped by Pittsburgh’s recent heroics.
The Reds, managed by Terry Francona, entered the series riding high but have stumbled badly, losing the opener 4-2 on Tuesday and the middle game 4-3 on Wednesday. That snapped their momentum against a Pirates squad that’s been irrelevant for months, finishing dead last in the NL Central for the third straight year. Pittsburgh, under interim skipper Don Kelly, has clawed back some pride with a four-game winning streak, including these two triumphs over their divisional rivals. The season series is knotted at 6-6, adding extra bite to this finale—the last regular-season meeting between these Ohio River foes.
On the mound, Cincinnati turns to lefty Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.44 ERA), who’s been a steadying force in the rotation despite the team’s inconsistencies. Lodolo’s sinker-slider combo has limited righties to a .235 average, and he’s logged quality starts in four of his last five outings. However, his command has wavered on the road (3.78 ERA away), and facing a Pirates lineup that’s feasted on lefties lately (.265 BA in September) could test him early. Pittsburgh counters with rookie sensation Braxton Ashcraft (4-3, 2.62 ERA), the 25-year-old right-hander who’s emerged as a late-season revelation. In seven starts and 18 relief stints, Ashcraft boasts a 9.1 K/9 rate and holds opponents to a .225 mark, including a scoreless three-inning gem last Saturday. His fastball-changeup mix thrives in hitter-friendly GABP, where he’s yet to allow a homer.
Cincinnati’s offense, powered by Elly De La Cruz’s electric .784 OPS (21 HR, 101 runs), must rebound from a dismal 1-for-10 with RISP in Wednesday’s loss. Spencer Steer (.278 BA, 15 HR) and TJ Friedl (.265, 12 HR) provide middle-order punch, but the lineup’s 22.0% strikeout rate against righties like Ashcraft is a red flag. The Reds rank 13th in runs (4.49 per game) but have stranded 13 runners in each of the series’ first two games, underscoring clutch woes.
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PODCAST LINKS:
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast…
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3jlFDPP…
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/733…
Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0…
iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/109483256
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/chatter…
Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id5327101?…
Player FM: https://player.fm/series/3450767
Andrew Abbott, Scott Barlow, Hunter Greene, Zack Littell, Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, Zach Maxwell, Emilio Pagán, Connor Phillips, Lyon Richardson, Tony Santillan, Brady Singer, Brent Suter, Yosver Zulueta, Will Banfield, Jose Trevino, Elly De La Cruz, Santiago Espinal, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, Spencer Steer, Sal Stewart, Miguel Andujar, Will Benson, TJ Friedl, Austin Hays, Gavin Lux, Rhett Lowder, Alfredo Duno, Tyson Lewis, Steele Hall, Cam Collier, Chase Petty, Edwin Arroyo, Héctor Rodríguez, Graham Ashcraft, Fernando Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Edwin Ríos, Jacob Hurtubise, Blake Dunn, Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Joe Morgan, Frank Robinson, Barry Larkin, Tony Perez, Joey Votto
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