The Pittsburgh Pirates (69-46) are currently one of the hottest teams right now in the majors, as they’ve won eight of their last 10 games and are in the midst of a four-game winning streak. They’ll be putting that streak on the line later this evening when they play host to the Arizona Diamondbacks (57-59) for the first encounter of their three-game set at PNC Park. Which club will draw first blood and start their week with a smile?
Read on below for a detailed preview of this National League clash, and if you’re looking for some golf action, check our 2015 Wyndham Championship preview and sleeper picks.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: Monday, August 17, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Arizona Diamondbacks (+165) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-185); Total: 7.0—View all MLB Lines
Betting on the Arizona Diamondbacks
The last time that the Arizona Diamondbacks reached the .500 mark was on April 22. Now, the D-Backs are just two games shy from getting there. However, they’re going to have to overcome a number of challenges when they open up their three-game series with the streaking Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park later this evening.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Toeing the rubber for the D-Backs will be Jeremy Hellickson (8-8, 4.73 ERA), who will make his second career start against the Bucs. The 28-year-old right-hander will be aiming to build on his best performance of the season last Tuesday, during which he limited the Phillies to an unearned run in over eight frames to pick up the commanding 13-1 victory. But his two turns prior to this were a struggle, as he gave up 10 earned runs in over eight innings. Arizona went 0-2 in that stretch. On the road this year, Hellickson is 2-5 with a dismal 6.09 ERA.
On offense, all eyes are going to be on the duo of Paul Goldschmidt (.337) and A.J Pollock (.313). Goldschmidt is 6-for-17 with five RBIs in his previous four contests and is a career .301 batter opposite the Pirates. Pollock, meanwhile, has been smoking hot in this month of August with a .383 batting average (18-for-47).
Arizona has lost six of its last nine on the road.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates strengthened their hold of the first wild card slot in the National League after completing a three-game sweep of the New York Mets yesterday. They now hold a 2.5-game cushion over the second wild card team, the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates will look to keep extending this advantage when they send their ace and Gerrit Cole (14-6, 2.48 ERA) on the hill for Game 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.
Cole has been very sharp all season long for the Bucs. But he has been the opposite over the past three outings, where he’s given up 10 runs (eight earned) and 18 hits in 16 1/3 innings. Pittsburgh went 1-2 during that stretch. Against the D-Backs though, the 27-year-old righty has gotten his way across two career starts with an unblemished 2-0 mark and an ERA of 1.98. Pittsburgh is 3-4 in Cole’s previous seven turns.
The Pirates have scored 16 runs in their last three games and have garnered four or more runs in six of their last nine. It’s clear that the offense has been a major reason to their current success and Cole will be hoping to receive that same effort at the plate this evening.
Aramis Ramirez will try to continue lighting up the plate, as he’s gone hitless only once in the past 10 games. In that span, he is hitting .375 (15-for-40) with 11 RBIs to boast about despite just batting .241 on the season. Also, expect some significant production from first baseman Michael Morse, who is 2-for-5 lifetime off Jeremy Hellickson.
Pittsburgh is 7-2 in its previous nine home games.
Writer’s Prediction:
Pirates (-185) win, 6-0.
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