Pittsburgh Pirates (23-20) vs Arizona Diamondbacks (25-19)
2023-05-20 16:05:00 EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Pittsburgh Pirates -105 / Arizona Diamondbacks -116 --- Over/Under: 8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Saturday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the opener, the Pirates took a blowout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona took on the A’s this week, winning two of three games in that series. On Friday versus the Pirates, the Diamondbacks had just four team hits in a 13-3 defeat. Starting pitcher Zac Gallen finished with 3.2 innings, five earned, eight hits and four walks.
For the starter job in the Saturday game the Diamondbacks will send out Brandon Pfaadt. In his three starts so far this year (the first three of his MLB career) Pfaadt is 0-1 with an 8.59 ERA and 11 Ks in 14.2 innings.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Over on the Pirates’ side, they played the Tigers this week and split a pair of games. On Friday versus Arizona, the Pirates scored seven runs in the fourth inning on the way to 17 hits. Johan Oviedo was solid on 6.0 innings, one earned, six hits and three walks.
It’ll be Mitch Keller for the starting role on Saturday. Across nine starts this season Keller is 5-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 69 Ks in 56.2 innings. Keller is 17-30 with a 4.62 ERA in 79 career games (77 starts).
The Diamondbacks are 5-2 in their last seven versus the NL Central and the over is 6-2 in their last eight Saturday games. The over is 5-1 in Arizona’s last six in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are 17-38 in their last 55 in game two of a series and 5-13 in their last 18 Saturday games. The over is 5-1 in Pittsburgh’s last six in game two of a series.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll stay with the Pirates in this one. It’s been a nice three-game stretch for Keller this month. In that trio he’s got 21.0 total innings with just one earned run on 13 hits and two walks. Keller also had a complete-game shutout on May 8 versus Colorado. If Keller can keep his streak going the Pirates will be in great shape. On Friday Pittsburgh had everything working on both sides. Four different players had three hits apiece for the offense in a great display of potential. I like the Pirates to keep it going in game two.
