The San Francisco Giants are heading east to PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. This NL showdown begins at 7:05 p.m. ET and fans can catch it on both ATPT and NSBA.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas has listed Pittsburgh (-155) as the favorite over San Francisco (+145). The total sits at eight runs and bettors can take the over for -105 or the under for -115. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the current odds standing at Giants +1.5 runs (-150) and Pirates +-1.5 runs (+130).
The Giants are 19-19 SU and are 23-14 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 5.0 units for moneyline bettors in the season’s early going and 6.8 units ATS. San Francisco has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in five of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 21-16 SU and 20-17 ATS. The team’s gained 4.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.4 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven outings and the total has gone over in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have a 19-13-5 over/under record so far in 2018. The Giants have an over/under record of 19-18.
Left-hander Andrew Suarez is the probable starter for San Francisco. Suarez is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He has yet to face the Pirates this year and did not record a start against them in 2017, either.
The Pirates are sending righty Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.42 ERA) to the mound. Taillon has 30 punchouts and 11 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.28. Taillon only made one start against the Giants in 2017 (0-1, 27.00 ERA across three innings).
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has given up 4.5 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 4.21, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.16 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.8 K/9.
The Pittsburgh hitters have produced 5.0 runs per contest, including 4.9 per game over its last 10 games and 6.8 per game over their last five. The team has hit .277/.357/.497 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Pirates’ offense has been led by outfielder Corey Dickerson and catcher Francisco Cervelli. Dickerson is slashing .323/.361/.534 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored, while Cervelli’s line is .302/.400/.552 with five homers, 22 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Dickerson had a minor decline in production against lefties at home in 2017, slashing .279/.308/.393 across 65 such plate appearances (his total season line was .282/.325/.490).
For the visiting squad, San Francisco’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.27 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 7.34 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.08, along with a WHIP of 1.28 and a K-per-9 of 7.95.
Giants hitters have slashed .248/.313/.387 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game this year, including 4.9 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.4 per game over the team’s last five contests (1-4 SU).
San Francisco’s offense has been powered by first baseman Brandon Belt and outfielder Andrew McCutchen. Belt is hitting .286/.403/.504 with six home runs, 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored, while McCutchen (.250/.377/.379) has produced three homers, 14 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .279/.363/.486, McCutchen didn’t seem to enjoy batting against righty pitching on the road in 2017, maintaining a slash line of just .225/.300/.392 over 247 such plate appearances.
The Giants have lost 2.1 units and are 10-9 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in seven of those games, compared to 12 that’ve hit the under against righties. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 0.6 units and are 3-2 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in five of those games, as opposed to zero that’ve gone under.
San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Giants, O/U – OVER
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Notes
Betting Notes
San Francisco fielders have 16 errors over the last 10 games, compared to four errors for Pittsburgh over its last 10.
The Giants have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit 14 over their last 10.
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