The San Francisco Giants are ready to play the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. This NL matchup starts at 1:35 p.m. ET and fans can catch the game on both ATPT and NSBA.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Pittsburgh (-135) is the favorite over San Francisco (+125) and Vegas has put the Over/Under for this day game at 8.5 runs (+100 for the under and -120 for the over). The game’s current runline odds stand at -170 for taking the Giants +1.5 runs and +150 for the Pirates -1.5 runs.
The Pirates are 23-16 SU and 21-17 ATS. The team’s gained 5.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 5.0 units against the spread (ATS). Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Giants, on the other hand, have gone 19-21 SU this year and are 23-16 ATS. Overall, the team’s gained 3.0 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season and 3.5 units ATS. San Francisco has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Pirates games have an over/under record of 20-13-5 so far in 2018. The Giants have an over/under record of 20-19.
Southpaw Derek Holland will get the nod for the visiting Giants. 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 will turn to righty Ivan Nova (2-2, 4.84 ERA), who has 37 strikeouts and eight walks to his name as well as a WHIP of 1.34. Nova did not record a start against the Giants in 2017.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has yielded 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018. The team’s starters have 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.
The Pittsburgh offense has put up 5.2 runs per contest, including 5.9 per game over its last 10 games and 8.4 per game over its last five. The team’s 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’ offense this year. Cervelli is slashing .307/.415/.574 with six home runs, 24 RBIs and 15 runs scored, and Marte’s line is .299/.359/.487 with six homers, 19 RBIs, 29 runs and 10 stolen bases.
Cervelli seemed to have a little trouble hitting lefty pitching at home last year, slashing .222/.323/.259 in 31 such plate appearances (his overall season line was .249/.342/.370).
In the visiting dugout, San Francisco’s pitching staff allowed 4.7 runs per game and its starters own a 4.50 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.43 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.34, along with a K/9 of 8.11.
Giants hitters have slashed .249/.315/.389 on their way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.8 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).
San Francisco’s offense has been led by first baseman Brandon Belt and outfielder 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.
Compared to his total season slash line of .279/.363/.486, McCutchen had some trouble hitting right-handed pitchers on the road last year, maintaining a slash line of .225/.300/.392 over 247 such plate appearances.
The Giants have lost 4.2 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in eight of those games, as opposed to 13 that’ve hit the 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’s hit in six of those games, compared to zero which went under the total.
San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Giants, O/U – OVER
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
San Francisco fielders have 14 errors over the last 10 games, compared to five errors for Pittsburgh over its last 10.
The Giants have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
xxxxx
