MLB betting fans are looking forward to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants meeting again tonight at 10:15 PM (ET) for the second game of their three-game series. Here are the odds for people who bet on baseball:
Pirates +1½ (-220) 7 (-115) +104
Giants -1½ (+180) 7 (-105) -114
Former Giants pitcher and current Pittsburgh Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong received a warm homecoming from the fans at AT&T Park last night – the right-hander won two World Series with San Francisco between 2011 and 2015. Thus it might be said that Vogelsong is used to winning at this particular field, and yesterday’s game was no exception; he gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings. His teammate Gregory Polanco had four RBIs, while Andrew McCutchen snuffed out a San Francisco rally in the seventh with an impressive catch. Giants starter Matt Moore took the hill at home for San Fran for the first time, but surrendered five runs in six innings. The Pirates won 8-5.
As for tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates will start rookie Jameson Taillon (3-2, 2.85 ERA) who is tearing up the pea patch as of late. The Pirates have won six of the righty’s last seven starts. Taillon has pitched at least six innings in each of his last six starts (which have all been quality starts) – including eight scoreless innings versus the San Diego Padres on August 11th. Giants MLB betting fans need not despair just yet, though. Right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija picked up his first win since July 8th in his last start against the Marlins on August 10th – something which he accomplished by relying heavily on curveballs. That choice of pitching surely paid off for Samardzija, as he did not allow a single run in 5 2/3 innings. Therefore, MLB betting fans can expect Samardzija to put on a similar effort when he opens against the Pirates tonight – or at the very least a better performance than when he last started versus Pittsburgh. Back in June, Samardzija lasted only three innings against the Pirates, allowing six runs and three home runs.
The San Francisco Giants are at the top of National League West Division with 66 wins and 52 losses (.559%). The Giants are 33–24 at home and 33–28 on the road. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates are third in the National League Central Division with 60 wins and 56 losses (.517%), 13 games behind the Chicago Cubs. However, the Pirates are still very much alive in the Wild Card race. Moreover, the Pirates are 7-5 in August, while the Giants are 5-8 – and the Giants’ pitchers have recorded only eight quality starts since the mid-season break; compare that to six consecutive quality starts from Taillon alone. On the other hand, Angel Pagan – who still has one of the most awesome names ever, along with teammate Joe Panik – extended his hitting streak to 13 games (the longest from a SF player this season) with a double in the first inning yesterday.
