Reds vs. Pirates Series DFS Series Picks – May 5 - 6

Submitted by Dan Shapiro on

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Dan Shapiro

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Gambling911.com has your Reds vs. Pirates series betting picks and daily fantasy sports plays for May 5 and 6.

The Series Overall:  Cincinnati has won the last five games in this series and the home team has won 7 of the last 9.  But more importantly, 8 of the last 10 games in this series have gone UNDER 7.5, which is the total posted for May 5.  The UNDER is 6-1-2 in Pittsburgh in the last 9 overall.  63% of those with money on the total were betting the UNDER. 

May 5 – Pitching Matchups – Reds RH Michael Lorenzen (0-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (2-1, 4.76)

Locke is 2-1 with a 2.75 ERA in seven starts against Cincinnati - 0-0, 2.19 in two outings last season.

The OVER is 5-1-1 in Locke’s last 7 starts as a favorite and, because we don’t have much stats to consider when it comes to Lorenzen, Gambling911.com will not be making any picks on this game from a betting standpoint.

May 5 – DFS Picks – Marlon Byrd has hit especially well against Locke, going 3-for-7 with 3 RBIs and a homerun.  Billy Hamilton is 4-for-7 against Locke but has struggled recently. He is priced at $4.4K.

May 6 – Pitching Matchups – Reds Mike Leake vs. Pirates Gerrit Cole

Cole has pitched 6 or more innings in his last four starts giving up a single run in three of those and just two runs in the fourth.  Against Cincinnati his first start of this season he allowed 5 hits and 3 runs.  He closed last season if with 7 innings against the Reds and only one run permitted on four hits after a disastrous outing versus Cincinnati earlier that season.  Vast improvement was recognized throughout the remainder of the year.  Todd Frazier has had two homers against Cole in 9 at bats but has struggled of late while red hot Brandon Phillips will present a dangerous scenario having gone 3-for-8 vs. Cole with one RBI.

Mike Leake has not allowed more than four hits in his last three starts.  Leake pitched eight shutout innings and gave up only two hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts in Thursday's win over the Braves. (Thu Apr 30).

Versus Pittsburgh early in the season he allowed three runs on five hits.  His last game of the season in 2014 was against the Pirates where he pitched seven innings and allowed just one run (a homer) off of three hits.  He allowed zero runs in his previous start against Pittsburgh.

May 6 – DFS Picks – Brandon Frazier, Mike Leake

- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com

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