Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 7/3/2021
Milwaukee Brewers (49-33) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (29-51)
July 3, 2021 4:05 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates +138 / Milwaukee Brewers -149; Over/Under: -8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Milwaukee Brewers and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend set between these teams. The Brewers took a win in the opener, then on Friday Milwaukee kept it going with a five-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Milwaukee posted three runs in the ninth inning on Thursday, powering themselves to a 7-2 victory. In the Friday game two, the Brewers scored three in the first three innings on the way to another 7-2 win. Adrian Houser put up 6.2 innings with one earned on four hits and two walks.
In the Saturday game, the Brewers will send Eric Lauer to the mound. Over his 10 games (seven starts) this year, Lauer has 42 hits, 26 runs (22 earned), 10 homers, 16 walks and 47 Ks over 44.0 innings with a 2-3 record.
Over on the Pittsburgh side, they couldn’t find much offense Thursday in the loss despite six team hits. On Friday in game two, the Pirates saw more of the same in the defeat with five hits. JT Brubaker put up 6.0 innings with five earned on six hits.
The Pirates will be sending out Cody Ponce for the Saturday game. Ponce is 0-1 this year with a 7.88 ERA and six strikeouts.
The Brewers are 4-0 in their last four in game three of a series and 36-15 in their last 51 Saturday games. The over is 5-0 in Milwaukee’s last five Saturday games and 5-2 in their last seven overall.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are 21-43 in their last 64 home games versus a team with a winning record and 17-38 in their last 55 versus the NL Central. Pittsburgh is 32-81 in their last 113 versus a team with a winning record and 14-39 in their last 53 versus a lefty starter.
PICK: I’m going to stick with the Brewers. That’s probably contingent on Lauer posting a quality start, though. He’s given up seven earned on 10 hits with five walks in 10.0 innings over his last pair. Lauer is 1-2 with a 5.81 ERA in his last seven starts, but should be capable of handling the Pirates offense.
