The New York Mets and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet in MLB action from PNC Park on Friday. Let’s dive into the odds, starting pitching matchup, history and make a prediction for this game.
Odds
New York is a -125 road favorite while the Pirates are +105 home underdogs. The total for this game is set at 9 runs.
Starting Pitching Matchup
Tylor Megill will start for the Mets and is 5-3 with a 4.40 ERA and 48 strikeouts this season. Rich Hill will get the call for the Pirates and is 5-5 with a 4.41 ERA and 61 strikeouts this season.
Matchup History
New York’s 7-3 win over Pittsburgh back on September 18th, 2022, made it six straight wins for the Mets in this head-to-head matchup.
Trends
New York is 5-16 in their last 21 road games and 3-10 in their last 13 games against a team with a left-handed starter while the under is 4-0-1 in their last 5 series-opening games. Pittsburgh is 5-1 in their last 6 series-opening games and 6-2 in their last 8 games overall while the over is 5-0-1 in their last 6 series-opening games.
Pick
I’m backing the over in this one. I just want no part of either starting pitcher here, as both are on the lower end of the totem pole in their respective rotations. Hill has a 5.00 ERA at home this season while Megill’s posting an ERA up over six away from Citi Field this season. The Mets let one slip away on Thursday and I look for them to take out some frustration on Hill, but I also look for the Pirates to respond with some scoring on Megill as well. Give me the over.