Phillies vs Pirates Betting Odds: Pittsburgh’s Downward Spiral
Pirates (25-48 since April) Own NL's Third-Worst Record!
The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series, starting Friday. Philadelphia is -1.5 (+100) on the run line and a -165 moneyline favorite in the opener, with Pittsburgh priced +140. The projected total is 8.0, with the Under juiced to -105. Read on as we break down the Phillies vs Pirates betting odds in our series preview. (Odds change frequently, often minute-by-minute, be sure and check for the latest and most up to date changes.)
Forgettable Summer in the Steel City
The Pittsburgh Pirates have cratered since their strong April, falling into last place in the National League Central. They hold the NL’s third-worst record at 45-57, a far cry from the team that rolled through the season’s first month at 20-9. With the Phillies vs Pirates game looming, fans eagerly anticipate an intense clash between the struggling Pirates and the formidable Phillies.
Pittsburgh is just 4-8 since the All-Star break, and its standing might only get worse ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline. The Pirates are clearly in sell mode once again, which could mean offloading some key veterans. Among the candidates to be traded is left-hander Rich Hill, who could provide valuable innings for a contender while on an expiring contract. Hill, projected to start Sunday’s series finale, is third on the team in innings with 114. His 21 starts are tied with right-handers Mitch Keller and Johan Oviedo for the team lead.
The Pirates’ staff ranks bottom 10 in both ERA and WHIP, however, on a positive note, they have allowed the ninth-fewest homers in the majors. That’s important to remember when assessing the Phillies vs Pirates betting odds.
Phillies Poised to Buy
The Philadelphia Phillies will be buyers in the coming days. For what? Perhaps a corner outfielder, which would allow them to shift the defensively challenged Kyle Schwarber back to designated hitter.
Regardless of what they do, the Phillies should remain a big player in the NL playoff race over the season’s final two months. While the Atlanta Braves have opened a 10-game lead atop the NL East, the Phillies fortunately have the wild card to fall back on. At 55-47, the Phillies are currently tied for the second wild card spot.
The Phillies are just 3-5 over their last eight but rebounded with back-to-back wins over the first-place Baltimore Orioles. Ten of their next 14 games are against teams currently under .500, which should allow them to build more separation from other playoff contenders, including the San Francisco Giants (56-47) and Cincinnati Reds (56-48). Five NL teams entered Thursday with between 47 and 48 losses, creating a logjam in the Major League Baseball standings.
Second baseman Bryson Stott continues to lead Philadelphia with a .300 batting average. The former first-round pick has been especially strong at the plate in July, with a .329 average and .897 OPS.
Odds Outlook
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have been two of the least profitable teams for bettors, as MLB betting trends will show. The Pirates are just 47-55 against the run line, better than only three teams, including the 41-61 Phillies. Notably, the Pirates have covered the Over in 53.1% of their games, compared to just 44.1% for the Phillies. Keep that in mind as you assess the Phillies vs Pirates betting odds.
⚾ Game 1 ⚾
Mitch Keller vs Zack Wheeler
Keller, Pittsburgh’s ace, is 9-6 with a 4.01 ERA. His 137 strikeouts rank fifth in the NL. July has been his worst month on the MLB schedule, as shown by his 7.04 ERA in four starts. He opposes Wheeler, who is 7-5 with a 3.88 ERA. Wheeler, a +4000 longshot for NL Cy Young, has struck out 134 batters. Keller is priced +5000.
⚾ Game 2 ⚾
Quinn Priester vs Aaron Nola
Priester has allowed 11 runs in 10.2 innings over his first two MLB starts. The 22-year-old right-hander is rated Pittsburgh’s fourth-best prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. The Phillies will counter with Nola, who is 9-6 with a 4.25 ERA. Nola has gone at least seven innings in three of his four starts this month. For the season, he has 133 strikeouts.
⚾ Game 3 ⚾
Rich Hill vs Christopher Sanchez
Hill, baseball’s oldest active player at 43, is 7-10 with a 4.82 ERA. This could be his last start with Pittsburgh, as he’s been linked to multiple teams ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline, including the Astros and Dodgers. Sanchez, a fellow southpaw, is 0-3 but owns an impressive 2.98 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
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