The Philadelphia Phillies (37-25, second in the NL East) are set to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (23-40, fifth in the NL Central) this Friday at 6:40 p.m. in Pittsburgh, marking the start of a three-game series.
The pitching matchup features Joe Ross for the Phillies, who holds a record of 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA, and Bailey Falter for the Pirates, sporting a 4-3 record and a 3.14 ERA. As the game approaches, the latest odds from BetMGM show the Phillies at -140 and the Pirates at +119, with an over/under of 9 runs.
Pittsburgh currently has a 23-40 overall record and a 14-18 record at home, struggling with a 6-27 record in games where they allow at least one home run. On the flip side, Philadelphia boasts a 37-25 record and an 18-13 record on the road, alongside a collective ERA of 4.03, placing them 10th in the National League.
This matchup marks the fourth time these teams will face off this season. Notable players to watch include Andrew McCutchen, who has recorded nine doubles and five home runs for the Pirates, and Oneil Cruz, who has been seeking improvement with eight hits in his last 39 at-bats. For the Phillies, Kyle Schwarber leads with 19 home runs, while Trea Turner has been impactful recently, hitting three home runs and bringing in eight RBIs over the last 10 games.
Both teams have seen their struggles in the last ten games; the Pirates hold a 4-6 record, a .246 batting average, and a 3.72 ERA, while being slightly ahead in run differential. The Phillies, however, sit at 3-7 with a lower .215 batting average and a high 5.88 ERA, being outscored by 25 runs.
Injuries may also play a role in this series, with the Pirates dealing with multiple players on the IL including Joey Bart and Colin Holderman, while the Phillies are monitoring the status of J.T. Realmuto and Aaron Nola, who are day-to-day and on the 15-Day IL respectively.
This matchup presents a critical opportunity for both teams to gain momentum as they navigate their respective seasons. With the Pirates looking to turn their fortunes around and the Phillies aiming to capitalize on their advantages, fans can expect an exciting series ahead.