Pittsburgh Pirates (48-48) vs Philadelphia Phillies (62-34)
Game Info: Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 6:40 pm (PNC Park)
The Line: Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Pirates +149 / Philadelphia Phillies -175 — Over/Under:
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game. We will examine:
The Philadelphia Phillies recent form and player performance
The Pittsburgh Pirates recent form and player performance
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Philadelphia Phillies
Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Pittsburgh Pirates
Recent betting trends in games played between the Phillies and Pirates
A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Phillies vs Pirates game
Philadelphia Phillies Betting Preview
The Phillies took on the Oakland Athletics in their last series. Philadelphia won Saturday 11-5 but lost otherwise 6-2 and 18-3 in the other pair. In their Friday series opener versus the Pirates, Philadelphia suffered a tough walk-off loss 8-7. Starting pitcher Aaron Nola went 5.0 innings with four earned runs.
In the starter role for Saturday’s game the Phillies are going with Christopher Sanchez. This year Sanchez is 7-4 with a 2.96 ERA in 18 starts. Over his 59 games (40 starts) in his career Sanchez is 13-11 with a 3.67 ERA.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, their last series before the All-Star break was against the Chicago White Sox. Pittsburgh did well in that one, taking a sweep with wins 4-1, 6-2 and 9-4. On Friday the Pirates came back from a 7-4 deficit to eked out the win. Martin Perez exited the start after 3.2 innings and six earned runs.
It’ll be Luis Ortiz in the starter role for the Pirates on Saturday. This year so far Ortiz is 4-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 25 games (three starts). In his career Ortiz is 9-9 with a 3.99 ERA in 47 games (22 starts).
Phillies vs Pirates Pick Injury Notes
Phillies RP Luis Ortiz underwent Tommy John surgery last week. RP Spencer Turnbull (lat) resumed playing catch Saturday.
Pirates RP Hunter Stratton (triceps) began a rehab assignment Monday.
Total Runs Facts
- Eight of the Pirates’ last nine night games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Phillies’ last four games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Phillies’ last three night games against National League opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Single in eight of his last nine home appearances against NL East opponents that held a winning record.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Pirates’ last four games.
- Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last four Saturday night games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Rowdy Tellez has recorded at least one RBI in four of his last five appearances in night games.
- Bryan Reynolds has scored at least one run in each of the Pirates’ last four games against the Phillies at PNC Park.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last eight Saturday games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Facts
- Trea Turner has hit a home run in each of the Phillies’ last three games.
- Trea Turner has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Phillies’ last five night games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Trea Turner has scored at least one run in each of his last six appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Trea Turner has recorded at least one hit in 20 of his last 21 appearances against the Pirates after playing the previous day.
- Alec Bohm has recorded a Double in six of the Phillies’ last seven road games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Trea Turner has recorded at least one Single in each of the Phillies’ last four night games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Trea Turner has recorded at least one total base in 20 of his last 21 appearances against the Pirates after playing the previous day.
Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction
I’ll probably try the Pirates again here. Ortiz is on a good run lately, even though he hasn’t gotten a decision in a while. Over his last three starts combined Ortiz has just two earned runs in 13.2 combined frames on 11 hits and one walk.
On Friday the Pirates looked like they were cooked in the seventh but it all worked out. The big stars were Rowdy Tellez (three RBI), Nick Gonzales (two RBI), Oneil Cruz (three hits; two runs), Bryan Reynolds (two runs; three hits) and Andrew McCutchen (two hits; three runs). Great bullpen effort as well. It was a wild comeback which should serve as momentum going into Saturday.