Arizona Diamondbacks at Pittsburgh Pirates:
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks enter Saturday’s showdown in Pittsburgh above .500 and in the thick of the National League Wild Card hunt. This game is where we’ll make Saturday’s MLB pick.
Jordan Montgomery gets the start on the mound for Arizona. Montgomery has somehow helped lead the team to a 10-5 record in his 15 starts this season despite a 6.51 ERA with 5.8 strikeouts and 3.3 walks per nine innings and at least six runs allowed in four of his past eight starts.
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On the other end, Mitch Keller gets the start for the Pirates, who has gotten the Pirates to the winner’s circle in 12 of his 14 starts since May began with a 2.45 ERA in this span, allowing only 0.8 home runs and 1.9 walks per nine innings along the way.
Saturday’s showdown will be one of Keller’s toughest this season. Arizona leads the National League with over 5.1 runs per game while the Pirates are averaging just 4.2 runs per game, but they brought in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan De La Cruz at the trade deadline to fortify the lineup.
The Pirates have also hit left-handed pitchers better than right-handers, with a .227 batting average and .296 on-base percentage against righties compared to a .245 batting average and .311 on-base percentage against lefties. (Montgomery is left-handed.)
Both teams are near equals in the bullpen. The Diamondbacks enter the series 21st in bullpen ERA with a 4.25 ERA, while the Pirates’ 4.28 ERA ranks 23rd.
Though the Diamondbacks offense is one of the most balanced in baseball, including Christian Walker and his 23 home runs this season, Jordan Montgomery’s recent poor pitching will be too much to overcome. Look for the Pirates to continue Mitch Keller’s winning ways.
MLB Pick: Pirates Moneyline -115
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