San Diego Padres vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions August 13th 2024

The forecast for Tuesday’s Pirates vs. Padres game calls for clear skies and temperatures in the upper 70s. This NL matchup is set for 9:40 PM ET from PETCO Park in San Diego, and the Padres are the heavy favorite on the money line, with their odds sitting at -201. The money line odds for a Pirates win are at +168, and they are 5th in the NL Central, with an overall record of 56-62. The Padres are 3rd in the NL West at 67-53.

Pittsburgh will be looking to snap an eight-game losing streak, and they are starting Luis L. Ortiz. Michael King is starting for the Padres, who will be looking to win their 68th game of the season. MLBN will be televising this game.

Pittsburgh vs. San Diego Key Information

• Teams: Pirates at Padres
• Where: PETCO Park San Diego
• Date: Tuesday, August 13th
• Betting Odds SD -201 | PIT +168 O/U 8

Pittsburgh is sending Luis L. Ortiz to the mound today vs. the Padres, and he comes in with a record of 5-2 and ERA of 3.40. So far, he has made three quality starts and is averaging 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Ortiz most recently faced the Padres on August 8th, where he finished with a no-decision. In that outing, he gave up four earned runs in six innings of work. Looking back over his last three outings, Ortiz has finished with a no-decision in each one. Before that, he had won three straight starts.

Andrew McCutchen has been swinging the bat well of late for the Pirates, going 3/8 with two homers and five RBIs in his last two games. He also comes into the game on a four-game hitting streak. Over his last five games, Oneil Cruz is batting .400 with one home run and three RBIs. Cruz is currently 2nd on the team with 18 home runs.

Bryan Reynolds is the Pirates’ top home run hitter this season, with 19 long balls, and he is also the team’s leader in RBIs, with 69. Reynolds is batting .284 for the season, while Bryan De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz are also near the top of the Pirates’ home run list.

• The Pirates are 1-9 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Pirates are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 6-4 in their last ten games.
• The Pirates have an average of 3.6 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Pirates are 3-7
• Looking back across the Pirates last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
• Pittsburgh has gone 0-3 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Pirates have averaged 4.1 runs per game on offense

Right-hander Michael King gets the start for the Padres today as he faces off against the Pirates. King has made 22 starts this season and has a record of 9-6 with a 3.34 ERA. So far, he has turned in 10 quality starts and is averaging 10.51 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, King finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had won three straight starts. King has been much better on the road, coming in with a record of 8-2 and a 3.31 ERA compared to 1-4 with a 4.35 ERA at home.

San Diego comes into the game as the league’s top hitting team, with a batting average of .265. They are also the top home run hitting team in the league, and their team on-base percentage of .325 is 6th in the league. The Padres are averaging 4.8 runs per game, which is 10th in the league.

Jurickson Profar has been a big power threat for the Padres this season, as his 19 homers are the most on the team and 14th in the league. He is also batting .297 for the season. Manny Machado has also been a big power threat, as his 18 homers are 2nd on the team and 15th in the league. Over his last 10 games, Jackson Merrill has gone 11/35 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

• The Padres are 8-2 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Padres are 1-4 vs. the run line.
• San Diego has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Padres have an average of 6.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Padres are 8-2
• Looking back across the Padres last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• San Diego has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Padres have averaged 6.7 runs per game on offense

Jackson Merrill and Padres Aim to Keep the Fun Rolling Against Pirates

The San Diego Padres are on a roll, and rookie phenom Jackson Merrill is right at the heart of it all. As the Padres push toward the postseason, Merrill’s standout performances have been crucial to their success. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are in the middle of a tough eight-game losing streak, desperately trying to turn things around. With these two teams clashing in the second game of their series, all eyes are on Merrill and the Padres as they look to keep the momentum going.

Jackson Merrill’s Breakout Season and Rookie of the Year Chase

At just 21 years old, Jackson Merrill is making a serious case for National League Rookie of the Year, challenging Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes for the title. Merrill’s been on fire recently, even earning NL Player of the Week honors. And let’s not forget his game-saving diving catch in Monday’s 2-1 win over the Pirates—a play that showed he’s more than just a bat in the lineup. Even though he went hitless in that game, his season stats (.289 average, 17 homers, 64 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases) speak volumes about his all-around contributions.

Merrill’s defense has been just as impressive in his first year as a center fielder, proving he’s a key piece in the Padres’ puzzle. But despite all the buzz around him, Merrill stays humble, focusing on the team’s success rather than individual accolades. “I’m just out here playing the game and having fun,” Merrill says, downplaying the Rookie of the Year talk and keeping the spotlight on the team.

Padres Riding High on a Hot Streak

The Padres are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now, winning 17 of their last 20 games. This streak has them firmly in the race for the National League West title and solidified their playoff position. As they head into the second game against the Pirates, they’ll have right-hander Michael King on the mound. King’s been solid this season with a 9-6 record and a 3.34 ERA. He’s looking to build on his last start against Pittsburgh, where he gave up four runs over five innings but didn’t factor into the decision.

With the Padres firing on all cylinders and Merrill leading the charge, they’re looking to keep the good times rolling.

Pirates Struggling to Find Their Groove

The Pirates are in a tough spot, having lost eight straight games. This skid has pushed them six games behind Atlanta in the race for the final NL wild-card spot, and they’re desperate for a win. The Pirates have been competitive in a lot of these games but just can’t seem to close the deal—five of their last eight losses were by one run.

Manager Derek Shelton is frustrated with the team’s inability to finish games, despite their hard-fought efforts. On Tuesday, they’ll turn to right-hander Luis L. Ortiz, who’s had a decent season with a 5-2 record and a 3.40 ERA. Ortiz faced the Padres last Thursday, allowing four runs over six innings in a loss. He’ll need to step up and find a way to contain San Diego’s powerful lineup if the Pirates want to snap their losing streak.

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Missed Opportunities and Key Players

Monday’s game highlighted the Pirates’ recent struggles, as they wasted a strong performance by Jake Woodford, who allowed just one run over six innings. The lack of clutch hitting—going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position—proved costly, which has been a recurring issue in their recent games.

For the Padres, the focus is on keeping their offense and defense sharp. Merrill’s ability to make a difference on both sides of the ball makes him a key player, and the team will look to him to keep setting the tone as they aim to extend their winning streak.

As the Padres and Pirates face off again, the contrast between these two teams couldn’t be more stark. The Padres, fueled by the rising star Jackson Merrill, are riding high and playing with confidence, while the Pirates are searching for a way out of their slump. With big performances and key matchups on the horizon, this game could be a turning point in both teams’ seasons. Baseball fans won’t want to miss the action as these two clubs continue their battle

The Lean

For an over/under pick, we are leaning towards the over, as this is projected to be the 7th highest-scoring game of today’s slate. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Padres to come out on top. San Diego starter Michael King is our 7th ranked starting pitcher in terms of strikeouts, and he has the 6th best hits allowed projection among today’s starters.