The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Miami Marlins meet Saturday in MLB action from Marlins Park. This will be the third installment in a four-game weekend series. The Marlins took a two-run win in the opener, then on Friday Pittsburgh returned the favor with a two-run victory of their own. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Pittsburgh Pirates 

The Pirates were out-hit 10-5 in the Thursday opener of this series, eventually falling 6-4. On Friday Pittsburgh scored three in the top of the ninth and held on for a comeback win 3-1. Starter Luis Ortiz put up 8.0 frames with one earned on seven hits and two walks. 

For the starter job in the Saturday game the Pirates will go with Osvaldo Bido. In his pair of starts this year (the first pair of his career), Bido is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA and 13 Ks in 10.0 innings. 

Miami Marlins 

Over on the Marlins’ side, they scored five runs in the eighth inning in order to power out the opener victory. On Friday Miami couldn’t score after the first inning on the way to seven team hits. Jesus Luzardo went 7.0 clean frames in the start with two hits, one walk and nine Ks. 

Bryan Hoeing will take the mound for the start on Saturday. Across 17 games (three starts) this year Hoeing is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 27 Ks in 30.0 innings. Hoeing is 2-2 with a 5.48 ERA in 25 career games (four starts). 

The Pirates are 75-160 in their last 235 road games and 9-23 in their last 32 versus a right-handed starter. Pittsburgh is 7-22 in their last 29 versus the NL East. 

Meanwhile, the Marlins are 5-0 in their last five Saturday games and 5-1 in their last six in game three of a series. Miami is 19-7 in their last 26 versus a right-handed starter. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll stay with the Marlins. Probably not touching this one, though. Hoeing has just one earned run on five hits and a walk over his last three outings in 7.0 innings. He probably won’t go too far past four or five innings in this one, though. On Friday Miami had a rough outing from AJ Puk (0.2 innings; three earned; three hits) but otherwise the pitching was very good. The Marlins need to get the bats going in game three regardless.