The Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Thursday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals prediction. This will be the first installment in a four-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Pirates vs Nationals pick.
Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Nationals are fresh off a matchup versus the Miami Marlins. In a quick two-game set, Washington won 6-2 in the opener then on Wednesday the Nats took a 10-inning loss 4-3. Starter MacKenzie Gore lasted 6.0 innings with one earned on one hit and a walk alongside nine Ks.
As a starter for Thursday’s opener, the Nationals will send out Jake Irwin. This year Irwin is 9-11 with a 4.08 ERA in 28 starts. Irwin is 12-18 with a 4.31 ERA in 52 starts over his career.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they just came off a series versus the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh won 5-3 and 5-0 in the first pair. In the finale, the Pirates were blown out 12-0. Domingo German went 3.0 innings with seven earned runs in the start.
In the starter slot Thursday the Pirates are sending out Bailey Falter. So far Falter is 6-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 23 starts. In 83 games (54 starts) in his career, Falter is 16-21 with a 4.63 ERA. The Pirates will meet the Marlins, Royals, Cardinals, and Reds after this series.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Nationals’ last nine night games after playing the previous day has gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Six of the Pirates’ last seven night games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Nationals’ last four games.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Yasmani Grandal has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances at PNC Park against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded two Singles in each of his last four appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one total base in each of the Pirates’ last eight home games against NL opponents.
- Yasmani Grandal has scored a run in each of his last five home appearances.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one RBI in eight of his last nine appearances.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last eight home games.
Washington Nationals Player Prop Facts
- Keibert Ruiz has scored at least one run in each of the Nationals’ last six road games.
- Joey Gallo has hit a home run in each of his last two road appearances against the Pirates.
- Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one Single in each of his last six appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one total base in each of his last seven appearances against NL Central opponents.
- CJ Abrams has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Nationals’ last three games against the Pirates.
- Ildemaro Vargas has recorded at least one hit in each of his last seven appearances against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals Prediction
I’ll stick with the Pirates here. Not touching it, though. Falter needs a bounce-back effort on Thursday. He’s got nine earned runs in his last 9.0 innings on 13 hits and three walks over his last two starts. As for Irwin, he’s given up nine earned in 10.0 innings over his last pair—seven of those came in one appearance, though.
On Wednesday the Pirates fell behind 7-0 by the third inning and couldn’t find a hit the rest of the way. Pittsburgh gave up a whopping 17 hits on the other side in a pretty miserable performance. It’ll obviously take a much better effort on both sides Thursday.