After losing the opening game in their three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Pittsburgh Pirates (71-47) answered back by winning the next two, 9-8 and 4-1. They’ll be looking to build on this momentum when they play host to the San Francisco Giants (65-55) for the first contest of their four-game series. Which team will draw first blood? Will the Pirates keep rolling? Or will the Giants steal this one away?
Read on below for a comprehensive preview of this National League showdown. And if you’re looking for more MLB action, click here to see our breakdown of the Indians and Yankees game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
When: Monday, August 20, 7:05 PM ET
Line: San Francisco Giants (+114) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-124); Total: 8.0—View all MLB Lines
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants have lost two of their last three games but still remain in contention for a postseason appearance. They are just two games behind the Dodgers for top spot in their division and also are three games away from nabbing the NL’s second wild card spot from the Cubs. The Giants will hope to get better results when they open up a critical four-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates this evening.
[sc:MLB240banner ]All eyes are going to be on Jake Peavy (3-5, 4.18 ERA), who takes the hill tonight. Things have been moving smoothly for the Giants whenever he starts, as they’ve won five of their last six with him on the mound. However, Peavy was simply just a recipient of an offensive outburst during his last time out against the Nationals Saturday, picking up the 12-6 victory despite permitting five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 frames. Across eight career starts opposite the Pirates, he is 5-2 with a quality 2.52 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and .216 opponents’ batting average.
On offense, expect the Giants to depend on the pair of Buster Posey (.322) and Brandon Crawford (.272). Posey has gone hitless over his last four outings; however, he could be in for a strong performance against the Pirates. He has a .333 (5-for-15) batting average off Pirates starter Charlie Morton. Crawford, meanwhile, is on a 13-game hitting streak, where he is 16-for-47 (.340) with eight doubles and eight RBIs to his name.
San Francisco is 3-2 in Peavy’s previous five road starts.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates, who own the second-best record in the National League, still have a long way to go to catch up in their division race. Despite going 6-1 in their last seven outings, the Pirates are still five games behind the league-leading St. Louis Cardinals. They’ll try to continue trimming that advantage when they host the San Francisco Giants later tonight.
Charlie Morton (7-4, 4.36 ERA) gets the nod for the Bucs. Morton had a miserable month of July, holding a dismal 5.04 ERA. But he’s rebounded nicely in three starts this month of August, going 1-0 with a decent 3.44 ERA and 22 strikeouts. Furthermore, Morton has been quite comfortable when matching up against San Francisco with a 3-4 record and a quality 2.84 ERA.
But Morton can’t do it all alone; he’ll need some timely contribution from his teammates at the plate. The duo of Andre McCutchen and Starling Marte are going to be their biggest threats at the plate. McCutchen is 4-for-9 in his previous two contests and boasts a .340 batting average at PNC Park this year. Marte, on the other hand, is a .333 career hitter versus the Giants and is 7-for-20 during his current four-game hitting streak.
Pittsburgh is undefeated in Morton’s last four starts.
Writer’s Prediction:
Pirates (-124) stay hot with a 6-3 triumph.
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