Padres vs. Pirates Thursday Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates are red-hot and will have an opportunity to add to their win column this weekend when they host the last-place San Diego Padres. What’s the best play for bettors on Thursday night?
Game Snapshot & Odds
953 San Diego Padres (+150) at 954 Pittsburgh Pirates (-160); 8 runs
Thursday, May 17, 2018
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: SD (FSSD); PIT (ATTP)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Pirates as a -160 favorite. As of this writing, 81% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Pirates to beat the Padres on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Padres’ youngster Lauer allows four home runs in loss
Eric Lauer was tagged for six runs in 2 1/3 innings Friday in a loss to the Cardinals. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that the Padres downgraded when they went from Luis Perdomo to Lauer in the rotation. Maybe they’ll reverse course now. Lauer has an 8.27 ERA in his four starts.
Pirates’ Kuhl posts quality start vs. Giants in last start
Chad Kuhl allowed three runs on six hits over six innings while taking a no-decision in Saturday’s win over the Giants. Kuhl turned in a quality start on Saturday, albeit without going above-and-beyond to do so. He had troubles with his control at times in the outing, walking four, and additionally had issue keeping the ball in the park. Two of the six hits he allowed on the evening left the yard, with Evan Longoria and Alen Hanson burning him for solo shots in the second inning. Kuhl struck out six over his six innings of work.
For the campaign as a whole, the 25-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 4.17 ERA and 1.35 WHIP over the course of 45 1/3 frames. A home showdown with the Padres shows next on his schedule.
MLB Betting Trends
San Diego
The Padres have lost seven of their last nine games against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh
The under has cashed in six of the last eight meetings between these two teams.
Prediction:
I don’t go to this well that much at PNC Park but I see value in the over tonight. Lauer has had a rough go of things, posting an 8.27 ERA and a 4.91 SIERA with a low strikeout rate and a poor walk percentage. He’s getting hit hard and he’s not generating many groundballs, so the Pirates should have plenty of opportunities to touch him up tonight. On the other side, Kuhl is walking batters at a 10.1% clip and he too is getting hit hard. With the total sitting at just 8 runs, I like the combined score to go over tonight.
The Pick: Padres/Pirates over 8