Pittsburgh Pirates vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions August 2nd 2024

Brandon Pfaadt will start for the Diamondbacks on Friday, and he is facing off against Luis L. Ortiz and the Pirates. This one is getting started at 6:40 PM ET from PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are the slight underdog on the money line (+113), while the Diamondbacks are favored (-134).

Arizona is currently on a three-game winning streak, and they are 3rd in the NL West with a record of 58-51. The Pirates are 3rd in the NL Central at 55-53 and they will look to end a two-game skid. The over/under line is at 8.5 runs, and the forecast for Friday’s game in Pittsburgh calls for light rain and 80-degree temperatures.

Watch the Pittsburgh Pirates latest game highlights on their game against the Houston Astros

Arizona vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Diamondbacks at Pirates
• Where: PNC Park Pittsburgh
• Date: Friday, August 2nd
• Betting Odds ARI -134 | PIT +113 O/U 8.5

The Diamondbacks Can Win If…

Right-hander Brandon Pfaadt is getting the start for the Diamondbacks today as he faces the Pirates on the road. He has made 21 starts this year and has a record of 5-6 with a 3.92 ERA. Pfaadt’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.11, and opponents are batting .234 off him this year. In his last outing, he pitched well, going 6 innings and giving up five earned runs. Before that, he had two straight scoreless outings. Pfaadt has made 11 quality starts this year and is averaging 8.19 strikeouts per nine innings.

Arizona comes into today’s game as one of the top offenses in the league, averaging 5.1 runs per game. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.2 runs per contest. The Diamondbacks are also one of the league’s top home run hitting teams, with a team total of 121 homers, which is 13th in the league. As a team, they are batting .258, which is 4th in the MLB.

Ketel Marte and Christian Walker have been the team’s top power threats this season, with Marte leading the team with 24 homers and Walker right behind him with 23. Marte is also hitting .302 for the season, while Walker comes into the game with a batting average of .254. Over his last 10 games, Eugenio Suarez has been on fire, going 14/38 with six homers and 11 RBIs. He is also on a four-game hitting streak.

• The Diamondbacks are 7-3 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Diamondbacks are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 7-3 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have an average of 9.0 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Diamondbacks are 7-3
• Looking back across the Diamondbacks last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
• Arizona has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 6.0 runs per game on offense

The Pirates Can Win If…

Pittsburgh is sending Luis L. Ortiz to the mound today vs. the Diamondbacks. He has made 27 appearances this year and has a record of 5-2 with an ERA of 2.75. So far, Ortiz has made three quality starts and is averaging 7.21 strikeouts per nine innings. In his last outing, Ortiz finished with a no-decision, giving up three earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had not given up more than one earned run in four straight outings. The right-hander has been tough to beat at home, going 2-1 with a 3.43 ERA compared to 3-1 with a 3.5 ERA on the road.

So far this season, the Pirates are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 22nd in the majors. They have been a little better on the road, averaging 4.4 runs per contest. As a team, they are batting just .232, which is 18th in the league, and their on-base percentage of .300 is also near the bottom of the league.

Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz are tied for the team lead with 18 home runs, while Reynolds’ 61 RBIs are the best mark on the team. Reynolds is also hitting .285 for the season. Oneil Cruz is batting .247 and is 2nd on the team with 54 RBIs. Over his last six games, Joey Bart is hitting .400, and Michael A. Taylor and Oneil Cruz have each hit two homers in this stretch.

• The Pirates are 5-5 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 4-6 in their last ten games.
• The Pirates have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Pirates are 7-3
• Looking back across the Pirates last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Pittsburgh has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Pirates have averaged 4.9 runs per game on offense

D-backs Face Pirates Playing Up to ‘Expectation’

The Arizona Diamondbacks are looking to keep their strong July performance rolling into August as they kick off a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Fresh off a successful month, the D-backs are focused on maintaining their momentum and securing a playoff spot.

Diamondbacks’ Recent Performance

The Diamondbacks have been on fire:

• July Success: The D-backs won 17 of their 25 games in July, finishing the month with a sweep of the Washington Nationals. This hot streak has propelled them to a season-high seven games over .500.
• Wild-Card Race: As of Thursday, Arizona holds the third and final wild-card spot in the National League.

Team and Player Insights

Here’s what the team has to say about their current form:

• Ryan Thompson’s Perspective: “I think this is what we expected from the beginning of the season,” said reliever Ryan Thompson. He believes the team is finally playing to its potential and emphasizes their goal of making the World Series.
• Corbin Carroll’s Streak: Carroll has reached base in 18 consecutive games, including two triples and a homer in the recent series against Pittsburgh.

Pitching Matchup: Brandon Pfaadt vs. Luis Ortiz

An exciting pitching duel is set for the series opener:

• Brandon Pfaadt (Diamondbacks): Pfaadt (5-6, 3.92 ERA) will take the mound for Arizona. He recently faced the Pirates, allowing five runs on seven hits over six innings but securing a win. In his career, he has a 6.35 ERA in two starts against Pittsburgh.
• Luis Ortiz (Pirates): Ortiz (5-2, 2.75 ERA) will pitch for Pittsburgh. He has excelled in his five starts this season with a 1.52 ERA. Ortiz had a no-decision in his previous start against Arizona, giving up three runs in five-plus innings.

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Pirates’ Recent Performance

The Pirates have had a challenging season but have seen some standout performances:

• Oneil Cruz’s Struggles: Cruz had three errors in a recent loss to the Houston Astros, leading to three unearned runs. Despite these struggles, Cruz is focused on learning and improving.
• Bryan De La Cruz’s Impact: De La Cruz had a solid debut with the Pirates, continuing a hitting streak that began with the Miami Marlins. He has been a consistent performer, adding stability to the lineup.

The Lean

Today’s game between the Diamondbacks and Pirates should be a low-scoring game, but with the line sitting at 8.5 runs, we are still leaning towards taking the over. As for who we like to win this one straight-up, we are leaning towards the Diamondbacks. Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt isn’t projected to put up big strikeout numbers, but we still like him to work deeper into the game than Luis L. Ortiz for the Pirates.