It’s a good old fashioned Pennsylvania rivalry series when the Philadelphia Phillies head West on I-76 to meet up with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a four game set. The Phillies want a big weekend so they can stay in the hunt in the NL East, currently 10 games back from the first place Mets and seven games behind Atlanta.
The Pirates meanwhile come into Thursday’s series opener 18 games below .500 and on a three game losing streak. Oddsmakers like the Phillies big in this matchup, setting them as -198 favorites while Pittsburgh is +164 to pull off the upset.
Phillies Coming Off Big Series
The second half didn’t start off the best for the Phillies, who were swept in a three game series by the Cubs at Wrigley Field. To Philadelphia’s credit though they were able to turn things around, taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves who have been red hot the past two months.
Now the Phillies go on the road for the first time since the All-Star break. They’ve been solid getting out of the gates winning 11 of their last 15 series openers, but are also just 2-6 in their last 8 vs. a RH starter. Philadelphia has also won four of the last five head to head meetings with the Pirates.
Zack Wheeler (8-5, 2.89 ERA) is up in the rotation for the Phillies. He looked solid in his first start of the second half, holding the Cubs to just three hits over 7.0 IP of work, but didn’t get any help from his bullpen as Chicago went on to win 6-2. Wheeler has held opponents to a run or less in three of his last four starts.
Pirates In for a Long Second Half?
The Cubs have suddenly gotten on a roll winning six in a row, so the Pirates can be excused a bit for losing 3-2 and 4-2 in their two game series at Wrigley Field. Pittsburgh also lost two of three to the Marlins in their first series after the All-Star break so they are a measly 1-4 so far in the second half.
The Pirates look like they could be in trouble on Thursday. They are 2-8 in their last 10 and have dropped four of their last five series openers. The Bucs do have a collective .361 average against Wheeler, but in limited experience (14 AB).
Zach Thompson (3-7, 4.64 ERA) gets the ball for the Pirates in the series opener coming off his worst outing of the season. The right-hander was touched up for seven ER over 5.1 IP in an 8-1 loss to the Pirates last Friday.
Phillies vs Pirates Pick and Prediction
One would think Philadelphia should be able to get the series opener rather easily, the only thing possibly hurting them is the letdown coming off taking two of three from the division rival Braves. Thompson had his confidence rattled last time out for Pittsburgh, and the Phillies bats should be able to pounce on that.
Pick: Phillies -1.5 (-115)
