Odds courtesy of TonyBet.
Diamondbacks vs Pirates Odds
The Pirates are a clear -139 home moneyline favorite at MLB betting sites. The Diamondbacks are priced at +108 odds. The total is set at 8.5 runs. Ahead of Wednesday’s clash, the last three meetings have cashed the Under.
As of writing, Pittsburgh is 5-1 in their last six games against Arizona.
Diamondbacks vs Pirates Analysis
The Diamondbacks happen to play in one of the toughest divisions in baseball, but they remain in playoff contention. While Arizona sits 12.5 games out of first place in the National League West, Torey Lovullo’s ball club is right in the heart of the NL Wild Card race. In fact, Pittsburgh owns an identical record, making this an important series, even though there are still plenty of games left in the regular season.
The D-Backs aren’t an elite team in any specific area, but offense has been a strength at times. Arizona ranks 13th in runs scored, and they’ve been smashing baseballs lately. Ahead of Wednesday’s game, the Diamondbacks have a 133 wRC+ across their last seven contests. On the mound, Arizona turns to Eduardo Rodriguez in the finale, and he’s been in respectable form lately. Across his last five outings, the lefty owns a 4.49 FIP. While those numbers aren't spectacular, E-Rod owns a solid 2.87 ERA on the road this season.
The Pirates have been in the gutter of the National League Central for years, but it appears that’s changed. Currently in third place in the division, the Wild Card is also a realistic path to breaking their 10-year playoff drought. The Bucs have one of the top lineups in baseball, ranking first in hits and average while sitting second in runs scored. They’re also top-three in OBP, slugging, and OPS.
That being said, the Bucs are in the middle of a major offensive slump at the moment. As of writing, they’ve collected a 59 wRC+ in their last six games with a mere .094 ISO. Their 93 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers doesn’t exactly exude confidence versus Rodriguez, either. As for their own starter, Jared Jones has been lights out since the All-Star break, posting a 1.70 xERA across two appearances. He’s limited opponents to a 33.3% hard-hit rate during that span.
Diamondbacks vs Pirates Picks
I really like how Jones is throwing the baseball, but it’s hard to overlook how well the Diamondbacks are swinging it, despite the lack of wins. E-Rod also clearly performs better on the road, and he's catching Pittsburgh's offense at the perfect time. Take the underdogs on the moneyline.
Pick: Diamondbacks +108/Tonybet
