Giants vs. Pirates Friday Prediction
The Giants and Pirates will open a new series Friday night at PNC Park, assuming the rain holds off tonight in Pittsburgh. If the weather cooperates, will bettors be able to take advantage of a potential pitcher’s duel?
Game Snapshot & Odds
903 San Francisco Giants (-116) at 904 Pittsburgh Pirates (-105); 7.5 runs
Friday, April 19, 2019
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
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Public Betting Trends
According to our MLB Public Betting Chart page, 56% of the betting tickets are on the Pirates to beat the Giants on the moneyline.
San Francisco Giants Fantasy Spin
Brandon Crawford went 0-for-4 on Thursday and is batting .203/.267/.232 in 69 at-bats. Crawford has played in 20 games and managed just two RBI and four runs scored. Playing time doesn’t figure to become an issue at any point, but there’s very little in the way of fantasy potential here.
Pittsburgh Pirates Fantasy Spin
Colin Moran singled to center field to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning on Wednesday against the Tigers. He laced one up the middle to plate Adam Frazier in the top of the 10th frame. Moran got just the one hit and one walk in his five trips to the plate. He has been getting part-time duty in the season’s early going but could see additional at-bats in place of the struggling Jung Ho Kang moving forward. Moran is batting .300/.400/.567 with two home runs and nine RBI in 35 plate appearances.
MLB Betting Trends
San Francisco
The Giants have beaten the Pirates in seven of their last nine games in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are a perfect 4-0 in their last four home games.
Prediction:
Madison Bumgarner is off to a strong start this season and draws a matchup with a Pirates team that is tied for the second-fewest home runs (13) in the league. The Bucs have also struggled against left-handed pitching, striking out at a 30.2 percent rate and posting a 26.9 percent hard-contact rate over 149 plate appearances. Meanwhile, the Giants have struggled against most pitchers this season and Jordan Lyles has allowed just three hits in each of his two start this season. Lyles has surrendered just one run, which was a solo shot to Jason Heyward, while also striking out 12 and walking only four. Since my prediction centers on the Bumgarner-Lyles matchup, I like the under in the first five innings as opposed to the entire game.
The Pick: Giants/Pirates UNDER 4 (-120) First 5 Innings