Cesar Hernandez and the Philadelphia Phillies will be taking the field against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in a Sunday showdown. The game gets going at 1:35 p.m. ET and this NL showdown will be televised on both ATPT and NSPA.
Philadelphia Phillies at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
The Pirates are 50-46 against the spread (ATS), but only 46-51 straight up (SU). The team’s gained 2.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 5.8 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven. The Phillies, on the other hand, are 51-48 SU and have gone 46-52 against the spread. Overall, the team’s lost 3.2 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 6.5 units ATS. Philadelphia has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have had an over/under record of 55-37-4 thus far in 2019. The Phillies have an over/under record of 47-47-4.
Drew Smyly will get the start for Philadelphia. The southpaw Smyly is 1-5 with an 8.42 ERA and 52 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Pirates are putting the ball in the right hand of Dario Agrazal (2-0, 2.45 ERA, 1.32 WHIP), who’s got seven punchouts and eight walks this season. Agrazal did not record any MLB appearances in 2018.
Philadelphia’s pitching staff allowed 5.0 runs per game and its starters own a 4.61 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.10 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.97, along with a WHIP of 1.37 and a K-per-9 of 9.00.
Phillies hitters have slashed .244/.324/.419 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game this year, including 4.2 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and shortstop Jean Segura have led Philadelphia’s hitters. Hernandez is slashing .281/.333/.407 with seven home runs, 41 RBIs and 45 runs scored, while Segura (.275/.319/.433) has produced 10 homers, 43 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
In the home-team dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has given up 5.3 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starters have a 4.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.94 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 9.6 K/9.
Pittsburgh’s offense has produced 4.7 runs per contest, including 4.2 per game over its last 10 games and 2.8 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .260/.306/.337 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.
The Pirates’ hitters have been led by first baseman Josh Bell and right fielder Starling Marte. Bell is hitting .292/.369/.617 with 27 home runs, 85 RBIs and 71 runs scored, and Marte’s line sits at .276/.316/.483 with 16 homers, 53 RBIs, 61 runs and 13 steals.
The Phillies have gained 4.3 units and are 35-38 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over’s hit in 34 of those games, compared to 35 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers.
Phillies at Pirates MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Phillies, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Philadelphia’s last seven games.
- Philadelphia has posted 20.2 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Phillies have hit 12 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit eight over their last 10.
- The Phillies have a team OPS of .743 this season and an OPS of .734 against right-handed pitchers. The Pirates’ OPS stands at .757 overall and .780 versus righties.
