The San Francisco Giants will be taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The game gets going at 1:35 p.m. ET and this NL matchup will be televised on either ATPT or NSBA.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas has listed Pittsburgh (-135) as the favorite over San Francisco (+125). Bettors can gamble on the games total with odds posted at -120 for over 8.5 runs and even money (+100) for under 8.5. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the runline odds standing at Giants +1.5 runs (-170) and Pirates +-1.5 runs (+150).
The Giants are 19-21 SU and have gone 23-16 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in the seasons early going and 3.5 units ATS. San Francisco’s covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 23-16 SU and 21-17 ATS. The teams gained 5.1 units for moneyline bettors and 5.0 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have a 20-13-5 over/under record so far in 2018. The Giants have an over/under record of 20-19.
Derek Holland will get the nod for San Francisco. The southpaw Holland is 1-4 with a 5.66 ERA and 32 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Pirates are going with righty Ivan Nova (2-2, 4.84 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and eight walks, as well as a WHIP of 1.34. Nova did not record a start against the Giants in 2017.
San Francisco’s pitchers have allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.43 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.34, along with a K-per-9 of 8.11.
Giants hitters have slashed .249/.315/.389 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game over the teams last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the teams last five outings (0-5 SU).
San Francisco’s hitters have been led by first baseman Brandon Belt and right fielder Andrew McCutchen. Belt is slashing .273/.390/.477 with six home runs, 18 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while McCutchen (.254/.373/.396) has produced three homers, 14 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
McCutchen had some trouble hitting righty pitching on the road in 2017, maintaining a slash line of .225/.300/.392 across 247 such plate appearances (compared to his total season line of .279/.363/.486).
In the home-team dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The clubs starting pitching staff has an ERA of 4.16, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.3. The bullpen has a 4.15 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.9 K/9.
Pittsburgh’s offense has produced 5.2 runs per outing, including 5.9 per game over its last 10 games and 8.4 per game over its last five. The team has hit .331/.399/.618 over its last five games and is 5-0 SU during that span.
Catcher Francisco Cervelli and right fielder Starling Marte have led the Pirates hitters this year. Cervelli is slashing .307/.415/.574 with six home runs, 24 RBIs and 15 runs scored, while Marte’s line is .299/.359/.487 with six homers, 19 RBIs, 29 runs and 10 stolen bases.
Compared to his total season slash line of .249/.342/.370, Cervelli did not perform very well against left-handed pitching at home last year, slashing .222/.323/.259 over 31 such plate appearances.
The Giants have lost 4.2 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in eight of those games, compared to 13 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 1.6 units and are 4-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to zero which went under the total.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Giants, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- San Francisco has recorded 24.8 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.6 over its last five.
- The Giants have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
