The Pittsburgh Pirates (19-35) are set to face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks (26-27) in a three-game series beginning on Monday at Chase Field in Phoenix, with first pitch scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET. This matchup marks the first meeting between the teams this season, although the Diamondbacks won the season series decisively last year, taking 4 out of 6 games with a 4-2 victory in their last encounter.
The Pirates recently split a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, capping it off with a narrow 6-5 loss. Despite this defeat, the Pirates have showcased some improvement lately, managing a commendable 4-2 record over their previous six games, their best stretch of the season. However, they struggle overall with the lowest offense in Major League Baseball, averaging just 3.04 runs per game.
On the other hand, the Diamondbacks are grappling with a slump, having lost five consecutive games—marking their longest losing streak of the season. They were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals, which included a close 4-3 loss in their latest contest. This decline comes as the Diamondbacks had been performing reasonably well, suggesting that they may turn things around soon.
For this matchup, the projected starters are left-hander Andrew Heaney for the Pirates and right-hander Ryne Nelson for the Diamondbacks. Heaney owns a solid 2.91 ERA and is coming off a strong performance, while Nelson has a 4.60 ERA but has shown promise in limiting runs in recent outings.
In terms of betting odds, the Diamondbacks are favored with a moneyline of -185, while the Pirates are at +155. Given their recent performances, there are predictions favoring the Diamondbacks to break their losing trend, especially with suggested odds for betting on the run line.
This game presents a pivotal opportunity for both teams. The Pirates aim to build on their slight resurgence, while the Diamondbacks are eager to snap their losing streak and reestablish themselves in the competitive National League landscape.
While struggles are evident for both teams, there’s potential for a turnaround, offering fans reason to be hopeful as the season progresses.