Phillies vs. Pirates Friday Prediction
The Philadelphia Phillies head to PNC Park for a weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Laying only -120 on the moneyline, are the Phils a good bet to win the series opener?
Game Snapshot & Odds
955 Philadelphia Phillies (-120) at 956 Pittsburgh Pirates (+100); 8.5 runs
Friday, July 6, 2018
7:05 p.m. ET, PNC Park
TV: PHI (NBCSP); PIT (ATTP)
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Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbooks currently list the Phillies as a -120 favorite. As of this writing, 64% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Phillies to beat the Pirates 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.
Phillies’ Pivetta roughed up for seven runs vs. Nationals
Nick Pivetta got walloped to the tune of seven runs in just 1 2/3 innings by the Nationals on Friday. Pivetta tends to be either really good or really bad on any given day, and today was gruesome. He served up three home runs and couldn’t even make it through the second inning. All seven runs came home on longballs — a two-run tater by Trea Turner, a two-run dinger by Juan Soto and a three-run bomb by Anthony Rendon. He gave up seven hits and two walks while fanning two in the beatdown. He falls to 4-7 with a 4.71 ERA after 17 starts. He does have an attractive 103:26 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 86 innings but that doesn’t matter if he can’t keep the ball in the yard.
Pirates’ Williams socked around in San Diego
Trevor Williams coughed up four earned runs, four hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings in a loss Saturday in San Diego. Williams has dropped back-to-back starts for the first time this season, and he wrapped up June with a season-high three losses in five starts during the month. He was 1-3 with a 5.32 ERA in five outings, his second straight month with an ERA over five runs. He’ll try to bounce back on Friday against Nick Pivetta and the visiting Phillies.
MLB Betting Trends
Philadelphia
The Phillies have lost six of Pivetta’s last seven starts.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are just 2-9 in their last 11 games versus National League East opponents.
Prediction:
The Phillies have won four straight games against the Pirates, are 4-0 in their last four games following an off day, and are 4-0 in their last four games overall. The Pirates, meanwhile, have dropped five straight at home, six of eight when Williams starts, and four consecutive at home when facing a right-handed starter.
The Pick: Philadelphia Phillies -120