Bet On Major League Baseball – Zito, Ohlendorf, Take Mound As Giants Host Pirates

Betting on Major League Baseball likely doesn’t get any easier than it does tonight when the pitching-rich San Francisco Giants host the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates at AT&T Park tonight at

MLB Betting Odds

Pittsburgh Pirates +1½ -145 +145
(Russ Ohlendorf –R)

San Francisco Giants -1½ +125 -165
(Barry Zito –L)

Over 8½ -110
Under 8½ -110

Monday, April 12, 10:15 PM ET
TV: FSN, CSN-BA HD
Radio: WPGB-FM 104.7, KNBR 680, KIQI, KATD 990

Pittsburgh Pirates (3-3 SU, 3-3 RL, 5-1 O/U)
San Francisco Giants (5-1 SU, 5-1 RL, 3-1-2 O/U)

Here is a look at tonight’s key head-to-head trends, followed by my in-depth analysis and expert MLB Free Picks.

• Under is 6-0 in the last 6 meetings.
• Under is 4-0 in Zito’s last 4 starts vs. Pirates.
• Under is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in San Francisco.
• Pirates are 0-5 in the last 5 meetings in San Francisco.
• Pirates are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings.

Pittsburgh 411

• Pirates are 1-4 in Ohlendorf’s last 5 starts.
• Pirates are 1-8 in Ohlendorf’s last 9 road starts.

The Pirates have dropped three of four including a dismal 15-6 loss to Arizona as a +185 underdog on Sunday. Bobby Crosby hit a two-run home run for Pittsburgh and Andrew McCutchen added a solo blast in a losing effort while starter Daniel McCutchen allowed nine earned runs on six hits in 3.1 innings.

San Francisco 411

• Giants are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a favorite.
• Giants are 8-1 in their last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
• Giants are 4-1 in Zito’s last 5 starts.
• Giants are 5-2 in Zito’s last 7 home starts.

The Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 6-3 on Sunday to cash in for MLB betting enthusiasts as a -180 favorite. Pablo Sandoval went 3-4 with a two-run home run and three runs scored for Frisco while flame-throwing reigning NL Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum allowed just two runs on five hits with 10 strikes in seven innings.

The Starters: Tonight, the Pirates will hand the ball to right-hander Ross Ohlendorf (0-0, 3.60 ERA) while the Giants counter with veteran southpaw Barry Zito (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

Analysis: Unless you’re the biggest Pittsburgh Pirates fan on the planet, you’ve got to be thinking the Pirates have no shot at beating a Giants team that has arguably the best starting pitching staff in all of baseball – and a former Cy Young award winner in Barry Zito that has already gone on record as saying he wants to get back to pitching like the staff ace he used to be just a few short seasons ago.

The Giants are the oh-so-easy pick tonight as they have gone a blistering 4-0 in their last four games as a favorite and 8-1 in their last nine games against a right-handed starter.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled mightily with Ross Ohlendorf on the mound, recording a pitiful 1-8 mark in Ohlendorf’s last nine road starts and 1-4 in Ohlendorf’s last five starts overall.

The Giants have gone 4-1 in Barry Zito’s last five starts and an even more impressive 5-2 in Zito’s last seven home starts.

Play the Giants to win and cover the Run Line with an emphatic win tonight.

MLB Expert Picks: Giants -1½ Runs