Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 7/2/2021
Milwaukee Brewers (48-33) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (29-50)
July 2, 2021 7:05 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates +152 / Milwaukee Brewers -165; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the second installment in a four-game set between these teams over the weekend. In the Thursday opener, the Brewers posted a five-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Milwaukee played the Cubs this week, bagging wins 14-4, 2-1 and 15-7 for the series sweep. In the Thursday opener versus Pitt, the Brewers put up three runs in the ninth on the way to a 7-2 win. Starter Corbin Burnes lasted 7.1 innings with one earned on four hits and a walk.
For the starter job in the Friday game, the Brewers will send out Adrian Houser. Over his 75.2 innings this year Houser has 73 hits, 38 runs (35 earned), 11 homers allowed, 32 walks, 60 Ks and a 4.16 ERA overall.
Over on the Pittsburgh side, they didn’t have any luck versus the Rockies this week, falling in all three games 2-0, 8-0 and 6-2. In the Thursday game, the Pirates had just six team hits during the loss. Wil Crowe managed 4.2 innings with two earned on three walks and four hits.
For the starter job in the Friday matchup, the Pirates are going with JT Brubaker. In his 77.2 innings this year, Brubaker has 71 hits, 33 earned runs, 13 homers allowed, 17 walks, 75 Ks and a 3.82 ERA.
The Brewers are 24-8 in the last 32 overall and 17-4 in their last 21 with the total set at 7.0-8.5. The over is 6-1 in Milwaukee’s last seven Friday games and the under is 34-16-4 in their last 54 road games with a total of 7.0-8.5.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are 17-35 in their last 52 in game two of a series and 7-15 in their last 22 Friday games. Pittsburgh is 17-39 in the last 59 overall and 32-80 in their last 112 versus a team with a winning record.
PICK: I’m probably sticking with the Brewers. Brubaker has been decent over his last three starts, posting seven earned in 17.2 innings during that span. As for Houser, he had some issues in his last pair of starts versus Colorado with nine earned in 11.0 innings on 14 hits. Houser had a nice start his last time up versus Pittsburgh though (5.2 innings; two earned; seven hits) so I like him to bounce back and help Milwaukee to a win.
