Breaking: 3 Ways Reds vs Pirates Will Dominate 2025
Forget the Dodgers and Braves. The NL Central is heating up. Discover the 3 key reasons why the Reds vs. Pirates rivalry is set to dominate MLB in 2025.
David Fletcher
A lifelong baseball analyst specializing in NL Central rivalries and player development.
Forget the coastal elites for a second. While everyone's eyes are glued to the Dodgers' payroll and the Yankees' pinstripes, a storm is brewing in the heart of America. The National League Central, long considered a division of scrappy underdogs, is about to become the most compelling theater in baseball. And at its epicenter? A renewed, supercharged rivalry between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Youth Tsunami Finally Hits the Shore
For years, we've heard about the prospects. We've seen flashes of brilliance mixed with the inevitable growing pains. In 2025, the grace period is over. The raw talent that has been simmering in both Cincinnati and Pittsburgh is ready to boil over, transforming these teams from promising upstarts into legitimate contenders.
Cincinnati's Electric Infield
The Great American Ball Park is about to live up to its name, and it starts with an infield that oozes five-tool potential. Elly De La Cruz isn't just a player; he's a human highlight reel. We've seen the 100 mph throws from third and the record-breaking speed on the basepaths. But 2025 is the year his plate discipline catches up to his otherworldly physical gifts. When he cuts his strikeout rate by even a few percentage points, he becomes an MVP candidate. Period.
But he's not alone. Imagine a lineup where you can't even pitch around him. Matt McLain, when healthy, is a professional hitter with sneaky pop and a high baseball IQ. Christian Encarnacion-Strand provides the kind of raw power that makes opposing pitchers sweat. This isn't just a collection of young players; it's a cohesive unit that has now played together, failed together, and is ready to win together. Their shared experience will be their greatest asset.
Pittsburgh's Terrifying Foundation
Across the division, the Pirates are building their own monster. It's a different formula—less frenetic energy, more raw, intimidating power. The conversation begins and ends with two names: Oneil Cruz and Paul Skenes.
Oneil Cruz is a shortstop in a power forward's body. Like Elly, he possesses tools that defy logic. The hardest-hit ball ever recorded? That's his. A cannon for an arm? Check. His 2024 season showed he was learning to harness that power, and by 2025, he will be a perennial 30-homer threat from the shortstop position—a true unicorn in modern baseball. He's the offensive anchor the Pirates have been dreaming of for a decade.
And then there's the pitching. We'll get to that more in a moment, but the psychological impact of having a generational arm like Paul Skenes at the top of your rotation cannot be overstated. It gives the entire team a swagger, a belief that on any given day, they have the best player on the field.
An Arms Race on the Mound
Get ready for some truly epic pitching duels. The Ohio River might as well be the dividing line in a new Cold War, but the arms race here involves 100-mph fastballs and unhittable sliders. Every Reds-Pirates series in 2025 will be must-see TV for pitching purists.
The Battle of the Flamethrowers
The headline matchup is, of course, Hunter Greene vs. Paul Skenes. It's pure, unadulterated velocity. It's the kind of matchup that gets its own broadcast promo. Greene, now with a few seasons under his belt, has learned to be more than just a thrower. He's a pitcher, mixing in his devastating slider to keep hitters off balance. Skenes, on the other hand, arrived as arguably the most polished college pitching prospect ever, armed with a triple-digit fastball and a wipeout "splinker."
But it doesn't stop there! The Pirates can follow up Skenes with Jared Jones, another rookie sensation who pairs his own high-90s heat with one of the best sliders in the game. This one-two punch is the stuff of nightmares for opposing lineups. A weekend series against the Pirates in 2025 will be a grueling physical and mental test.
Here’s a look at how the top of these rotations might stack up:
| Player | Team | Key Weapon | 2025 X-Factor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Greene | Reds | 100+ MPH Fastball | Third pitch development |
| Paul Skenes | Pirates | "Splinker" | Innings load management |
| Nick Lodolo | Reds | Sweeping Curveball | Full season health |
| Jared Jones | Pirates | Wipeout Slider | Limiting hard contact |
| Graham Ashcraft | Reds | Sinker/Cutter Combo | Consistency |
| Mitch Keller | Pirates | Veteran Leadership | Maintaining velocity |
Beyond the Heat: The Crafty Complements
It's not just about velocity. The Reds counter with the funky, deceptive delivery of Nick Lodolo. His sweeping breaking balls from the left side provide a completely different look, preventing lineups from getting comfortable. When he's healthy, he's a true co-ace. The Pirates have their own veteran presence in Mitch Keller, an All-Star who has reinvented himself and provides stability and innings behind the two young guns.
This depth is what elevates the rivalry. It means that even on Day 3 of a series, you're getting a high-level, compelling pitching matchup. There are no easy days.
From Rebuild to Reload: The Front Office Showdown
Perhaps the most underrated reason for this impending dominance is the philosophical shift in both front offices. The painful, multi-year rebuilds are over. GMs Nick Krall (Reds) and Ben Cherington (Pirates) have weathered the storm of fan criticism and are now in the enviable position of adding to a strong, cost-controlled core.
Nick Krall's Calculated Aggression
For the Reds, the mandate is clear: supplement the youth. After years of shedding payroll, Krall has shown a willingness to spend strategically. This isn't about signing a $300 million superstar. It's about finding the perfect veteran reliever to lock down the 8th inning, or a solid fourth outfielder who can provide a professional at-bat off the bench. These seemingly small moves are what turn a .500 team into a 90-win team. Expect the Reds to be active in the mid-tier free agent and trade markets to plug their final few holes, particularly in the bullpen.
Ben Cherington's Blueprint Comes to Life
In Pittsburgh, Ben Cherington's slow-and-steady approach is finally paying massive dividends. He built one of the best farm systems in baseball, and now he gets to reap the rewards. The Pirates' challenge will be to augment their pitching-heavy foundation with more consistent offense. With their top prospects graduating, Cherington now has the flexibility to trade from a position of strength. He can package some of his near-ready prospects to acquire a proven middle-of-the-order bat to support Oneil Cruz, turning a good lineup into a great one.
Key Takeaways for 2025
- Matured Superstars: The young cores of both teams, led by Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz, will transition from 'potential' to 'production'.
- Elite Pitching Clashes: Every series will feature must-watch duels between high-velocity aces like Hunter Greene, Paul Skenes, and Jared Jones.
- Win-Now Mentality: Both front offices are now focused on adding the final pieces to their rosters, shifting from rebuilding to contending.
The stage is set. Two hungry, young, and immensely talented teams. Two fanbases starved for a winner. Two front offices ready to push their chips in. The Reds-Pirates rivalry isn't just coming back; it's poised to define the National League for the next several years. Get your popcorn ready for 2025. It's going to be a wild ride.