Giants and Pirates Battle in the Baseball Odds

After four consecutive losses, the defending World Series champions finally got their act together and got a win on the road last night over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-2 in extra innings. 

Tonight features the second game of the three-game series, with the Giants listed as the favorite in the baseball odds, with the game total set at 8.5 runs.

San Francisco Giants (11-11) at Pittsburgh Pirates (10-13)
Wednesday, April 27 at 7:05 PM ET
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TV: CSBA, RT
Baseball Odds: San Francisco -1.5, Pittsburgh +1.5, Game Total: 8.5 runs

Both teams will send losing pitching to the mound tonight, as neither starter has registered a win on the season so far.  For the Giants, Madison Bumgarner will start on the stripe. Bumgarner is coming off his shortest pitching stint of the season, as he lasted less than three innings against the Atlanta Braves while allowing four runs. Tonight the young southpaw will hope for his first win since the World Series.

On the opposite side, the Pirates will play behind the arm of James McDonald.  With the worst ERA on the Pirates roster at 10.12, McDonald have given up five homers in just his last three starts.

MLB Pitching Matchup:
SFG M. Bumgarner (0-3, ERA 7.79) vs. PITT J. McDonald (0-2, ERA 10.12)

But San Francisco has not batted well as of late.  In the team’s last five games, the lineup has a combined average of .196 with a horrendous 42 strikeouts. The lone shining light for the Giants has been Pablo Sandoval, who has gotten two hits in each of the team’s last two games.

Sandoval has a .377 career average against Pittsburgh and is three for seven against McDonald with a double.  If Sandoval can connect tonight and create a spark for the Giants, McDonald may be looking at his third season loss.

The Giants currently sit at .500 on the season and need to make a move to defend their National League title and World Series crown, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are just the team to regroup and re-strategize against.

The best bet in the baseball odds for tonight’s game is on the Giants to get the win.

Baseball Odds Free Pick – Go with the San Francisco Giants -1.5!