Philadelphia Phillies vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 8/1/2021
Philadelphia Phillies (51-52) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (39-64)
August 1, 2021 1:05 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates +125 / Philadelphia Phillies -145 ; Over/Under: 9
(Get latest betting odds)
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Sunday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the final installment in a three-game set between these teams. The Pirates took a shutout win on Friday, then in the Saturday game Pittsburgh kept it going with a tight victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Philadelphia couldn’t get anything going on Friday, posting just one hit in a 7-0 shutout loss. In the Saturday game, the Phillies out-hit the Pirates 8-6 but still lost 3-2 in a rough game. Aaron Nola managed 6.0 frames on three hits, one walk and two earned runs.
For the Sunday finale, the Phillies will send Kyle Gibson to the mound for the start. In his 113.0 innings this year Gibson has 92 hits, 38 runs (36 earned), nine homers allowed, 41 walks, 94 Ks and a 2.87 ERA.
Over on the Pirates’ side, they posted 12 team hits and five runs in the first two innings on Friday during the win. In the Saturday game two, Pittsburgh posted a walk-off run in the bottom of the ninth. JT Brubaker had 6.0 innings with three hits, two walks and one earned.
For the starter job on Sunday, it’s looking like the Pirates will send out Mitch Keller. This year so far Keller has a 3-7 record, a 7.04 ERA and 51 strikeouts to his credit.
The Phillies are 4-1 in their last five Sunday games and 2-6 in their last eight in game three of a series. The over is 9-2 in Philly’s last 11 road games and 15-7 in their last 22 overall.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 Sunday games and 17-49 in their last 66 in game three of a series. Pittsburgh is 33-69 in their last 102 with a total of 9.0-10.5 and the under is 18-6-4 in their last 28 Sunday games.
PICK: I’m going to take a stab on the Phillies here. That hinges on Gibson putting up some good numbers, though. He’s been rough over his last three, with 15 earned runs on 22 hits and 12 walks in 17.1 innings of work. Gibson put up just two earned in his last game, but also issued eight free passes. I think he’ll have a better game here and set Philly up for a potential victory.
