Philadelphia (48-36) at Pittsburgh (40-47)
When: Saturday, July 7th 2018
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 4:05 ET | TV: NBCS Philadelphia,
AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -129/8
The Philadelphia Phillies have inched closer to the Atlanta Braves in the National League East by using strong pitching performances during a four-game winning streak, but broke out the bats big time on Friday to earn their fifth consecutive victory – a 17-5 rout of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It tied the longest nine-inning game in National League history at 4 hours, 30 minutes. Philadelphia is now tied atop the East after Atlanta’s loss in Milwaukee. The Phillies banged-out 18 hits to earn their seventh win in their last eight overall and will seek a series victory over their in-state rivals Saturday as Jake Arrieta opposes Jameson Taillon. Pittsburgh has lost four straight as its pitching staff has been lit up, allowing 48 runs – and 12 homers – during the skid. The Phillies have won all five meetings with the Pirates this season, outscoring them 35-10. Pittsburgh second baseman Josh Harrison went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Friday to snap a 1-for-16 slump. Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera, who homered and drove in four runs on Friday, is 4-for-7 with a homer versus Taillon.
Pitchers: Phillies – Jake Arrieta (5-6, 3.54 ERA) | Pirates – Jameson Taillon (5-6, 4.05)
Arrieta has really struggled after a fast start with his new team this season, going without a victory in his last six outings, recording only one quality start over that stretch. Arrieta was decent in his most recent outing, allowing three runs – two earned – over five innings in a no-decision against Washington. He is 11-6 with a 3.01 ERA in 21 career starts against the Pirates, including a victory on April 19th in which he struck out 10 and allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings.
Taillon was on the other end of that April 19th contest with Arrieta, allowing five runs in just an inning and two-thirds, falling to 1-1 with a 5.68 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. Taillon followed up an excellent June (3-2, 2.90 ERA) with a dud in his first July start. He allowed four runs – three earned – over 4.2 innings in a no-decision at San Diego on Sunday.
The Phillies are on a roll right now, while the Pirates are going in the opposite direction. The Phillies have owned their in-state rivals this season and should put another beating on them Saturday despite sending out a struggling Arrieta.
Pick: Phillies +108
BETTING TRENDS:
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 overall.
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 5-0 in their last 5 games on grass.
- Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 road games.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League Central.
- Phillies are 5-1 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Phillies are 9-3 in their last 12 Saturday games.
- Phillies are 23-9 in their last 32 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 20-8 in their last 28 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 5-11 in their last 16 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 3-7 in their last 10 during game 2 of a series.
- Phillies are 4-1 in Arrieta’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Arrieta’s last 5 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 1-4 in Arrieta’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Phillies are 1-5 in Arrieta’s last 6 road starts.
- Pirates are 3-7 in their last 10 games following a loss.
- Pirates are 2-5 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Pirates are 6-20 in their last 26 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 2-10 in their last 12 vs. National League East.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 Saturday games.
- Pirates are 0-5 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 0-5 in their last 5 during game 2 of a series.
- Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 overall.
- Pirates are 0-4 in their last 4 games on grass.
- Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 home games.
- Pirates are 8-2 in Taillon’s last 10 starts vs. National League East.
- Pirates are 8-2 in Taillon’s last 10 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 21-8 in Taillon’s last 29 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 5-2 in Taillon’s last 7 starts when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 10-4 in Taillon’s last 14 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Pirates are 2-6 in Taillon’s last 8 home starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 5-0 in Phillies last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Phillies last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-1 in Phillies last 6 Saturday games.
- Under is 8-2 in Phillies last 10 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 road games.
- Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 8-2 in Phillies last 10 on grass.
- Under is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 4-1 in Phillies last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 7-2 in Phillies last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 14-6 in Phillies last 20 games following a win.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Arrieta’s last 7 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 5-1-1 in Arrieta’s last 7 road starts.
- Over is 4-1-1 in Arrieta’s last 6 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Arrieta’s last 5 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
- Over is 3-1-2 in Arrieta’s last 6 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Arrieta’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Arrieta’s last 8 starts on grass.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Arrieta’s last 8 starts overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Pirates last 5 overall.
- Over is 5-0 in Pirates last 5 on grass.
- Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-0 in Pirates last 6 games following a loss.
- Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 19-6-2 in Pirates last 27 Saturday games.
- Over is 5-2 in Pirates last 7 vs. National League East.
- Over is 7-3 in Pirates last 10 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 37-17-1 in Pirates last 55 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 5-0 in Taillon’s last 5 Saturday starts.
- Under is 6-0 in Taillon’s last 6 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Taillon’s last 5 starts with 5 days of rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Taillon’s last 5 starts on grass.
- Over is 4-1 in Taillon’s last 5 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Taillon’s last 6 starts vs. National League East.
- Over is 4-1 in Taillon’s last 5 starts when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Phillies are 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 6-1-3 in the last 10 meetings.
- Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Pittsburgh.
- Phillies are 3-10 in the last 13 meetings in Pittsburgh.
