The Pittsburgh Pirates will be taking on the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET and this NL matchup will be shown on ATPT and NSPA.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Pittsburgh (+110) as the underdog to Philadelphia (-120). Bettors can wager on the games total with odds listed at even money (+100) for over 8.5 runs and -120 for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds coming in at Pirates +1.5 runs (-190) and Phillies +-1.5 runs (+165).
The Phillies are 13-7 SU and 7-12 ATS. The team has gained 4.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 7.8 units against the spread (ATS). On the other hand, the Pirates have gone 12-9 SU this year and are 11-9 ATS. In total, the teams gained 3.6 units for moneyline gamblers in the seasons early going and 3.5 units ATS.
Philadelphia games have an over/under record of 8-9-2 thus far in 2018. Pirates games have gone over 11 times, gone under seven times and pushed on two occasions.
Trevor Williams is getting the start for Pittsburgh. The right-handed Williams is 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA and 14 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Phillies this year and only made one start against them in 2017 (0-1, 4.76 ERA across 5.2 innings).
The Phillies will turn to righty Nick Pivetta (1-0, 2.49 ERA), who’s got 21 strikeouts and two walks as well as a 0.97 WHIP. Pivetta did not record a start against the Pirates in 2017.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 3.73 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 6.77 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.43, along with a K/9 of 9.17.
The Pirates offense has slashed .252/.323/.411 on its way to 4.9 runs scored per game this year, including 3.1 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Right fielder Starling Marte and catcher Francisco Cervelli have led Pittsburgh’s offense. Marte is hitting .278/.374/.494 with 22 hits, eight RBIs, 16 runs and six stolen bases, while Cervelli (.262/.361/.475) is up to 16 hits, two homers, 12 RBIs and seven runs scored.
Marte did not perform especially well against righty pitching on the road last season. Over 128 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .250/.289/.317 (his overall season line was .275/.333/.379).
In the other dugout, Philadelphia’s pitching staff has given up 3.5 runs per game overall in 2018. The teams starters have an ERA of 3.02, a WHIP of 1.14 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.4. The bullpen has a 3.34 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 8.7 K/9.
The Philadelphia hitters have put up 5.2 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 4.6 per game over their last five. The team has hit .241/.348/.323 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that stretch.
Outfielder Rhys Hoskins and second baseman Cesar Hernandez have led the Phillies batters this year. Hoskins is slashing .328/.488/.639 with four home runs, 19 RBIs and 15 runs scored, and Hernandez’s line is .278/.409/.403 with 20 hits, eight RBIs, 15 runs and five stolen bases.
The Pirates have gained 4.0 units and are 9-7 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to seven that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Phillies have lost 0.1 units and are 4-11 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in five of those games, compared to eight that went under the total.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Phillies, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has cashed in three of Pittsburgh’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have lost five of their last six games SU.
- Philadelphia has recorded 20.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.8 over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games. The Phillies have hit seven over their last 10.
