MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Diego Padres MLB Odds Preview
The Bucs Look to Stop 7-Game Losing Streak; Padres Lose Ground On Dodgers
Who Will Win?
Fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates (56-61) know the end is near but with just five games separating them from the Atlanta Braves for the last wild-card spot, there is still hope in the Burgh, even if the MLB schedule says otherwise.
No players are fighting to cash MLB MVP odds tickets in the Pirates line-up, and unfortunately, that’s what you need to compete late in the season.
The San Diego Padres (66-53) were within 2.5 games of the top spot in the NL West but dropped a 7-6 decision to the Miami Marlins, Sunday, while the Dodgers were finishing off a sweep against the Pirates.
Currently, the Padres are ranked ninth in our latest MLB power rankings while Pittsburgh is 19th. Oddsmakers opened San Diego as a -162 favorite with a total of 8 (over -115).
Game one is scheduled to start at 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT and can be seen on Sportsnet Pittsburgh and the San Diego Padres app. Let’s dive into our Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Diego Padres MLB Series odds preview.
Pirates vs Padres 
⏰Day/Time: 📍Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA
📺Streaming: MLB.TV
⚾Game One⚾
Marco Gonzalez (Pit) 1-1, 4.54 vs Joe Musgrove (SD) 3-4, 5.66
We’re sitting back and watching where the MLB betting line will take the total because early numbers indicate that the public is pounding the over (97% early money) which could push the juice to even money at some point with plenty of time before the first pitch.
Pittsburgh has lost even straight games and nine of their last 10 to fall five games behind the Atlanta Braves for the last wild card spot.
- As an underdog, the Bucs have struggled to win just 50 of their previous 122 games (-8.66 units) and 31 of 78 (-6.23) as a road dog.
They’ll send Marco Gonzalez to the hill who is looking to bounce back after two poor outings against tonight’s opponent and the Arizona Diamondbacks. In his previous start against the Padres five days ago, the Friars touched him up for five earned runs, eight hits, two walks, and two homers in 4.2 innings.
The Pirates fought back to tie the MLB score (6-6) in the sixth with a pair of runs but Padres prevailed in 10 innings. 9-8. This will definitely explains why the Pirates vs Padres MLB odds are sitting the way they are.
Pittsburgh will face an old friend in Joe Musgrove who pitched in the black and gold for three seasons in 2018-2020 when he was 18-26.
- Pittsburgh traded Musgrove in a three-team deal with the Mets that produced David Bednar. The former all-star has struggled all season with MLB injuries, limiting him to just 10 starts.
Musgrove will require surgery at the end of the season due to bone spurs but has changed his pitching angle to allow him to finish the season.
Despite all the negativity with tonight’s starters, we think the number is a trap so we suggest betting under in game one.
⚾Game Two⚾
Luis Ortiz (Pit) 5-2, 3.40 vs Michael King (SD) 9-6, 3.34
Luis Ortiz has been a pleasant surprise as a starter for Derek Shelton after coming out of the bullpen for most of the season but some of the magic may be starting to wear off after allowing 13 earned runs in his last 16.1 innings (7.17 ERA).
The Pirates losing streak has reached three straight games when Ortiz starts, because the 25-year-old is getting hurt by the long ball, allowing six homers in those three losses.
Michael King goes for his 10th win of the season after a rough outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start allowing three earned runs, six hits, two walks, seven strikeouts, and a homer in five innings.
- Despite the shaky start, King has allowed just eight earned runs over his last 29.2 innings (2.43 ERA) to go with a 3-1 record.
The former Boston College Eagle heads into this MLB matchup with 151 strikeouts in 129.1 innings. Our game two recommendation is to go over the total.
Innings, schminnings: How the Padres are monitoring Michael King’s workload https://t.co/yLQ3PpZIuf pic.twitter.com/ylpJwB6eZw
— The San Diego Union-Tribune (@sdut) August 5, 2024
⚾Game Three⚾
Mitch Keller (Pit) 10-6, 3.56 vs Martin Perez (SD) 2-5, 4.78
With Paul Skenes on the verge of having his innings limited, if the Pirates truly fall out of contention, Mitch Keller is their staff ace and has been for most of the season.
The former All-Star was rocked in his last outing at Los Angeles allowing seven earned runs, seven hits, two walks, five strikeouts, and two homers in five innings, a 9-5 Dodgers win.
The good MLB news is, that was the worst start that Keller has had in quite some time. Over his last five starts, the 28-year-old has allowed 12 earned in 25 innings (4.32) but just five over his previous four starts before the debacle against Los Angeles.
They face Martin Perez who will be making his third start with the Padres after being traded by the Pirates for a minor leaguer before the deadline.
Perez has been stellar for Manager Mike Shildt with 3 earned runs allowed in 13 innings (2.08 ERA) helping the Padres win both of his starts over Miami and Colorado.
- Over his previous three starts, Perez owns a 1.42 ERA. We know former Pittsburgh pitchers are traded and usually flourish, so we’ll be looking to bet the Padres in the series finale.
That concludes our Pirates vs Padres MLB odds preview. All the best with your MLB picks and parlays.
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