| MATCHUP | Pittsburgh Pirates | Colorado Rockies |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 47-63 | 29-80 |
| Where | Coors Field, Denver, Colorado | |
| When | Saturday, August 2, 2025 | |
| Time | 03:10 PM EDT | |
| TV | MLB.TV | |
In this article, we will formulate a Pirates vs Rockies prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, August 2, at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates (47-63, 16-38 Away) were on a five-game winning streak before this series in Denver, and although they opened Game 1 with a 9-0 lead in the 1st inning, the Pirates were left empty-handed. Pittsburgh swept the Tigers, beat the Diamondbacks, and swept the Giants, but fell short against the Rockies, 17-16 on Friday. Andre McCutchen led the offense with five RBI, while Andrew Heaney pitched for 3.1 innings in a no-decision, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with one strikeout and one walk. Dennis Santana took the loss.
This year, the Pirates average 3.50 runs per game (30th in the MLB) on a .233/.304/.344 triple-slash. When it comes to pitching, the Pirates’ staff has a 3.79 ERA (10th) and 1.20 WHIP (3rd). Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with a .236 batting average, ten home runs, and 52 RBI this season.
The projected starting pitcher for the Pirates is Paul Skenes, who is 6-8 in 22 starts this season, with a 1.83 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 133.0 innings.
Colorado Rockies Betting Preview
The Colorado Rockies (29-80, 15-38 Home) opened the second half with series wins over the Twins and Cardinals at home, but then lost two road series to the Orioles and Guardians. The Rockies returned home and came from a huge deficit to defeat the Pirates 17-16 in Game 1 of the current series. The teams combined for a whopping 40 hits, and Colorado scored seven runs in the last two innings to secure a W. Six players drove in multiple runs, but Warming Bernabel led the bunch with four RBI, while Antonio Senzatela pitched for 0.2 innings in a no-decision, allowing eight runs on seven hits with no strikeouts and two walks. Dugan Darnell was credited with the win, his first in the majors in his first appearance.
This season, the Rockies average 3.72 runs per game (28th in the MLB) on a .236/.295/.392 triple-slash. When it comes to pitching, the Rockies’ staff has a 5.74 ERA (30th) and 1.60 WHIP (30th). Hunter Goodman leads the Rockies with a .279 batting average, 20 home runs, and 61 RBI this season.
Austin Gomber will take the mound for the Rockies on Saturday. The 31-year-old left-hander has a 0-5 record in eight starts this year with a 6.28 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 38.2 innings.
Why the Rockies will cover
- The Pirates have lost each of their last five games as road favorites against National League opponents.
- The underdogs have won five of the Pirates’ last six games.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 games as road favorites against National League opponents.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in eight of the Pirates’ last nine games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Rockies’ last eight day games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Seven of the Pirates’ last eight day games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 10 of the Pirates’ last 12 games as road favorites.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the last 10 games between the Pirates and Rockies.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Rockies rank 30th in the league for ERA this season (5.74).
- The Rockies rank 30th in the league for strikeouts this season (717).
- The Pirates rank 30th in the league for RBIs this season (373).
- The Pirates rank 30th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.344).
Pirates vs Rockies Prediction
The teams have traded victories in the past couple of years, each recording five in the previous ten H2H encounters. The almighty Paul Skenes is starting for the Pirates, which usually means one thing – misery for the opposing batters. However, this will be Skenes’s first appearance at notorious and hitter-friendly Coors Field, and I am not sure how he’ll handle it. Skenes was an absolute monster in July, posting a 0.67 ERA in 27.0 innings, but something tells me he will be tested in Denver. Austin Gomber, on the other hand, allowed multiple runs in each of his five starts in July, and there is no doubt the Pirates will do damage against him. Pittsburgh has a .218 BA in 880 at-bats against the lefties this season, which is a chance for Gomber to try and contain the least-efficient offensive team in the MLB. My bet is the Rockies will stay close, so I am backing them to cover a +1.5 run line.