The Pittsburgh Pirates (64-81) and the Baltimore Orioles (67-77) play the second game of a 3-game series Wednesday. First pitch from Oriole Park at Camden Yards is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Pirates vs. Orioles odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Orioles lead 1-0
The Orioles beat the Pirates 3-2 in 11 innings in Tuesday’s series opener, cashing as -143 home favorites with the Under (7.5) hitting. C Samuel Basallo hit a walk-off RBI single in the 11th inning with the bases loaded.
Pirates LF Tommy Pham hit a solo shot in the ninth to tie the game and force extras. Pittsburgh has lost 4 games in a row.
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Pirates at Orioles projected starters
RHP Paul Skenes vs. RHP Tyler Wells
Skenes (10-9, 1.98 ERA) makes his 30th start. The favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award (-10000 at BetMGM Sportsbook) has a 0.94 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9 through 173 innings.
Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 8 K in 5-3 home victory vs. LA Dodgers ThursdayHas never faced Orioles
Wells (1-0, 3.60 ERA) makes his second start. He allowed 2 ER on 5 hits and no walks with 4 K’s in 5 innings in his debut, a 6-2 win at the San Diego Padres Sept. 2.
2024 stats: 0-2, 5.87 ERA (15 1/3 IP, 10 ER), 1.37 WHIP, 7.6 K/9 in 3 starts2024 vs. Pirates: 1 road start (April 6, 2024), no-decision, 5 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 5-4 setback in 11 inningsPirates at Orioles odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:17 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Pirates- 155 (bet $155 to win $100) | Orioles +130 (bet $130 to win $100)Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Pirates -1.5 (+115) | Orioles +1.5 (-140)Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: +100 | U: -120)
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Pirates at Orioles picks and predictionsPrediction
Pirates 4, Orioles 3
The Pirates (-155) have won Skenes’ last 4 starts and will likely win again Wednesday, but the preferred play is to bet the first 5 innings.
PASS on the moneyline.
The Pirates have won straight up (SU) in 2 of the last 3 meetings and have covered the -1.5 run line in each of Skenes’ last 4 starts.
On the other side, the Orioles are 1-3 SU in Wells’ last 4 starts dating back to last season.
First 5 innings bets are easier to beat long term due to lower market liquidity — and we don’t want to rely on the Pirates bullpen — so BET PIRATES FIRST 5 INNINGS -0.5 (-115).
The Under has hit in 2 of Skenes’ last 3 starts and 3 of the Pirates’ last 4 games overall. The concern might be the Pirates scoring too many runs for the Under to hit, but Pittsburgh has put up 2 runs or fewer in 4 straight games.
BET UNDER 7.5 (-120).
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