One three-game streak will end on Monday night as the Pittsburgh Pirates bring a three-game winning streak into Arizona, which has lost its past three. However, behind hard-throwing lefty Robbie Ray, the Diamondbacks are favored on the MLB Betting Lines.
How to Bet Pirates vs Diamondbacks MLB Week 7 Betting Lines & Game Info
- When: Monday, 9:40 PM ET
- Where: Chase Field
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Nick Kingham/Robbie Ray
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: ESPN 1320
- MLB Week 7 Betting Lines: Arizona Diamondbacks -185, Pirates +155 (Total 9)
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Why Bet on Pittsburgh?
The Bucs played a four-game series in St. Louis over the weekend and it sure didn’t start well with Pittsburgh getting hammered 17-4 in the opener. However, the Pirates rebounded to win the final three. It was 10-6 on Sunday.
Josh Bell went 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and a career-high five RBIs in the comeback win. Bell kicked off the scoring with a two-run double off Cardinals’ starter Dakota Hudson in the opening frame and also sparked a late rally for the Pirates by clobbering a game-tying, three-run homer — his 10th round-tripper of the season — off Cardinals’ reliever John Brebbia in the seventh inning. It was the fifth four-hit performance of his career. Overall, Bell is hitting .319/.389/.659 with 25 runs scored and 34 RBI across 157 plate appearances.
Gregory Polanco went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Polanco singled and scored in the first inning, was hit by a pitch and scored in the seventh and also singled and crossed the plate in the eighth. The 27-year-old outfielder has been fantastic since coming off the injured list in late-April. He’s hitting .317/.379/.533 with 10 runs scored, two homers and nine RBI in 66 plate appearances. Polanco has accumulated a total of 67 extra base hits since the beginning of last season as a right fielder, which ranks second among all National League players at that position behind Atlanta’s Nick Markakis (69 extra base hits).
Nick Kingham (1-0, 5.94) gets the call here. Kingham owns a 5.94 ERA but allowed just two earned runs over four innings in his first start of the season last Wednesday, so he will get another shot to start. Chris Archer (thumb) will be activated from the injured list this week, which could push Kingham back to the bullpen after Monday’s outing.
Kingham has worked multiple innings in five of his eight relief appearances this season. He made 15 of his 18 appearances in 2018 as a member of the starting rotation. Kingham has gone 5-7 with a 5.28 ERA (75.0ip/44er) in his 16 career starts. He’s 0-0 in one career relief appearance vs. Arizona. Kingham allowed three runs on three hits in 2.0 innings of relief earlier this year on 4/24 at PNC Park.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 3.73
- Hits: 8.14
- Walks: 2.86
- Strike Outs: 8.59
Defense
- Runs: 4.68
- Hits: 8.24
- Walks: 3.38
- Strike Outs: 8.86
Why Bet on Arizona?
The D-backs swept a 4-game series at PNC Park from April 22-25. Arizona has won 8 consecutive games vs. Pittsburgh, as well as 12 of its last 13. The D-backs’ 84 wins vs. Pirates are second-most against a non-division opponent, behind 85 wins vs. Marlins.
The Snakes won the first of their home series opener vs. Atlanta last Thursday but then dropped the final three games, totaling just eight runs scored. Adam Jones was a bright spot Sunday, going 3-for-5 with a double and a two-run home run. Jones belted a two-run blast to left field in the fourth inning to bring the Diamondbacks within one, but they were unable to pull off the victory. The 33-year-old has proven to be a valuable pickup by Arizona this offseason, as he’s slashing .272/.337/.503 with eight homers and 23 RBI through 39 games this season.
The D-backs have played just 18 games at home this season, tied for the fewest in the majors with the Red Sox, Tigers, Reds, and Mets. Arizona will play 12 of its next 23 at home. The D-backs’ .640 winning pct. since April 14 is third best in the NL behind the Cubs and Dodgers. The D-backs’ have played 36 games this season vs. opponents with a current winning percentage of .500 or better, the most in the majors.
It’s lefty Robbie Ray (2-1, 3.30) on the mound. Ray allowed four hits and three walks while striking out a season-high 11 over 5.2 scoreless innings in last Wednesday’s 3-2 extra-innings win over the Rays. Ray was long gone by the time Wilmer Flores singled in the winning run in the 13th inning, but he was the early star for the Diamondbacks. Ray kept the Rays off balance with his slider and worked around any potential trouble while lowering his ERA to 3.30 over eight starts. This was the sixth time he’s allowed three or fewer runs.
Ray is six strikeouts away from 800 for his career. He will be the second fastest left-handed pitcher in terms of games played (currently at 124) all-time to reach the milestone (Frank Tanana, 120) and the third-fastest in terms of innings pitched (Aroldis Chapman, 480.2 IP; Billy Wagner, 597.2 IP).
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 5.00
- Hits: 9.27
- Walks: 3.10
- Strike Outs: 9.05
Defense
- Runs: 4.68
- Hits: 8.61
- Walks: 3.37
- Strike Outs: 8.95
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Pirates vs Diamondbacks MLB Week 7 Betting Trends
- Pirates are 2-6 in Kingham’s last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game
- Diamondbacks are 4-0 in Ray’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a winning record
- Pirates are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Pittsburgh’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Arizona
- Diamondbacks are 2-6 SU in their last 8 games this season
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Arizona’s last 6 games at home
Expert Final Score Prediction for Pirates vs Diamondbacks
Pittsburgh Pirates 2 – Arizona Diamondbacks 7
