The Pittsburgh Pirates head west to take on the San Francisco Giants tonight. The game is scheduled for a 10:15 p.m. start time and it will be televised live on MLB.tv. Currently the Major League Baseball Odds for the game have the Giants favored in this one at home.
The Giants are absolutely scuffling right now, losers of four straight games and being swept by the arch rival Los Angeles Dodgers this past weekend. They are looking to right the ship in tonight's game when the Pittsburgh Pirates come to town. The Giants are still in second place in the National League West after getting beat up by the Dodgers.
San Francisco has been a .500 team at home this season, which isn't doing them any favors. Tonight they are sending their horse Madison Bumgarner to the mound. He's been consistent and dominant at times this season and tonight will need to come up big. But Bumgarner hasn't been pitching very well in home games this season, going just 4-5 with a 5.22 ERA in 10 home starts. He has won his last three starts. Yet, against the Pirates Bumgarner is 1-2 in three career starts, holding a 1.71 ERA and the Pirates to a .211 batting average in those matchups with 22 strikeouts in 21 innings.
The Giants are favored here, but Pittsburgh needs a win just as much. Both teams are looking to catch up in their respective divisions, but San Francisco obviously has a lot less less ground to cover. Overall, San Francisco has lost 19 of their last 25 games at home. That's just hard to believe, considering their position in their division.
Pittsburgh has lost eight of its last 11 games on the road, but they have won seven of 10 since the All-Star break. They will hand the ball to Vince Worley tonight, who is 3-1 with a 3.10 ERA.
It's hard to imagine the Giants getting in a deeper hole than they currently find themselves. San Francisco is going to find a way to win this one tonight with Bumgarner on the mound. Look for him to silence the Pirate bats and keep this one low-scoring.
Free Pick: San Francisco 3, Pittsburgh 1
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