Saturday MLB Free Pick
(The Spread) – NL Central rivals clash in Houston tonight when the Astros host the Pirates at 7:05PM ET.
Odds: Oddsmakers from online sports book Bodog have made the Astros -120 money line favorites over the visiting Pirates, who are +113 on the ML. The over/under total for tonight’s game is currently 7 runs.
Pitching Matchup: Paul Maholm will take on Bud Norris in tonight’s pitching matchup. Despite his 6-9 record, Maholm has been fantastic this year, posting a 2.96 ERA to go along with his 75 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Norris has been steady, posting a 5-6 record with a 3.46 ERA and 113 strikeouts.
Public Betting: Of the 1,800-plus wagers on tonight’s game, 78% of MLB public bettors favor the Pirates +113.
MLB Free Pick: Take Pittsburgh. According to latest MLB trends, the Pirates are 8-1 in their last nine games against the Astros and 11-5 in Maholm’s last 16 starts against Houston. The Bucs are also 5-2 in Maholm’s last seven starts overall and 4-0 in his last four outings with five days of rest. The Astros are just 3-13 in their last 16 games as a home favorite and 3-14 in their last 17 games as a favorite. They’re also 1-7 in their last eight divisional games and 3-8 in Norris’ last 11 home starts versus a team with a winning record. The first place Pirates are now the talk of baseball and should continue to play with confidence.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: PITTSBURGH PIRATES +113
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