Marlins vs. Pirates Prediction
Will the Pirates top Edinson Volquez and the Marlins when they host Miami at 7:05PM ET tonight?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Pirates are -133 money line favorites versus the Marlins, who have odds of +123 to pull off the upset. With Volquez set to face Gerrit Cole in the pitching matchup, the over/under currently sits at 8.5 runs.
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Rotoworld on Volquez’s no hitter: Volquez threw a no-hitter in the Marlins’ 3-0 defeat of the Diamondbacks on Saturday. Volquez was pitching with a full heart on what would have been Yordano Ventura’s 26th birthday. He posted a tribute to his deceased friend on Instagram on Saturday morning and then twirled nine inspired innings against the visiting Diamondbacks, striking out 10 batters while issuing two walks on 98 total pitches. It was the first career no-hitter for Volquez and the sixth in Marlins history. The veteran right-hander is now 2-7 on the season with a 3.79 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 57/33 K/BB ratio in 61 2/3 innings.
Cole was knocked around for season-high seven runs over five innings against the Mets on Friday. For the second straight start, the Mets touched him up for three home runs. Cole has allowed 16 runs (including eight home runs) in 14 2/3 innings over his last three starts, increasing his ERA from 2.84 to 4.27 on the year. He’ll try to get back on track next week against the Marlins.
Bet Tonight’s Marlins vs. Pirates Game
OUR PREDICTION: The Marlins are 0-6 in Volquez’s last six road starts, are 2-6 in his last eight outings, and are 1-5 in his last six outings versus a team with a losing record. They’re also 4-9 in their last 13 road games, are 3-13 in their last 16 games when playing the first game of a series, and are 2-9 in their last 11 road games versus a right-hander. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 4-1 in Cole’s last five home starts, are 4-1 in his last five outings versus National League East opponents and are 8-3 in their last 11 games following a loss.
THURSDAY MLB FREE PICK: PITTSBURGH PIRATES -133