Pittsburgh (55-75) at Philadelphia (67-62)
When: Monday, August 26, 2019
Where: Citizens Bank Park,
Philadelphia, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: NBCS Philadelphia
Opening Odds: Philadelphia -140/9.5
It seems that nobody wants the National League’s second wild card spot, as teams are blowing chance after chance to seize control of it. The Philadelphia Phillies, who open a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, can’t seem to beat the bad teams and take advantage of the opportunity. Philadelphia lost two of three at home to San Diego last week, then won both games against Boston at Fenway Park before dropping two of three at the lowly Miami Marlins over the weekend. Despite all of their struggles, the Phillies begin a six-game homestand only 1.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild card, while Washington has a firm grasp on the first spot. Rhys Hoskins, who is 9-for-73 with 20 strikeouts in the month of August, clubbed a two-run homer to account for the Phillies’ only runs in Sunday’s 3-2 setback to Miami. The Pirates were in the wild card conversation at the All-Star Break but are way out of contention after on an 8-30 stretch before posting a three-game sweep of Cincinnati over the weekend. The Pirates pounded out 12 hits in Sunday’s 9-8 victory after a 14-0 triumph on Saturday. The Phillies took two of three in Pittsburgh right after the break and all three games went under the total.
Pitchers: Pirates – Joe Musgrove (8-12, 4.74 ERA) | Phillies – Jason Vargas (6-6, 3.99)
Musgrove’s struggles continued last time out when the Nationals hit him for six runs (five earned) on seven hits in five innings of an 11-1 setback. The righty is also getting very little run support, with the Pirates scoring a total of seven runs in his last four starts. Musgrove, who will be facing Philly for the second time, had one of his better outings of the season on July 20th. He allowed one unearned run and two hits over six innings of a Pittsburgh 5-1 victory.
Vargas has pitched well since coming over to Philadelphia, allowing two runs in three of his four starts, but has an 0-1 mark to show for it. He limited the Padres to two runs and six hits over five innings last time out but the Phillies lost 3-2. Vargas beat the Pirates in his final start with the Mets on July 28th, allowing three runs over 5.2 innings of an 8-7 victory.
The Phillies had success against Pittsburgh last month and will have Bryce Harper back in the lineup after missing the weekend in Miami due to being on the paternity list. He should help provide a spark against a struggling Musgrove and Vargas shouldn’t have much trouble with the Pirates lineup – even though they scored a ton of runs against Cincinnati.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Monday. He is 116-80 +2413 units on the season after a 17-7 run!
Pick: Phillies -128
BETTING TRENDS:
Pirates are 16-40 in their last 56 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Pirates are 8-20 in their last 28 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Pirates are 4-10 in their last 14 during game 1 of a series.
Pirates are 16-41 in their last 57 vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 5-13 in their last 18 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 games following a win.
Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 11-30 in their last 41 overall.
Pirates are 11-30 in their last 41 games on grass.
Pirates are 4-11 in their last 15 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 9-25 in their last 34 road games.
Pirates are 6-20 in their last 26 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 6-23 in their last 29 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. National League East.
Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 Monday games.
Pirates are 5-2 in Musgrove’s last 7 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Pirates are 5-12 in Musgrove’s last 17 road starts.
Pirates are 6-15 in Musgrove’s last 21 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Pirates are 2-6 in Musgrove’s last 8 starts during game 1 of a series.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 starts vs. National League East.
Pirates are 1-4 in Musgrove’s last 5 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-5 in Musgrove’s last 6 Monday starts.
Phillies are 4-0 in their last 4 vs. National League Central.
Phillies are 4-1 in their last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Phillies are 12-5 in their last 17 games following a loss.
Phillies are 7-3 in their last 10 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Phillies are 5-13 in their last 18 Monday games.
Phillies are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record.
Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 road games.
Over is 14-2-1 in Pirates last 17 Monday games.
Over is 6-1 in Pirates last 7 games following a win.
Over is 13-3 in Pirates last 16 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 19-6-1 in Pirates last 26 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 vs. National League East.
Under is 5-2 in Pirates last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 35-15-3 in Pirates last 53 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 3-0-1 in Musgrove’s last 4 starts with 4 days of rest.
Over is 6-0 in Musgrove’s last 6 starts when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Musgrove’s last 6 starts vs. National League East.
Under is 4-1-1 in Musgrove’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 17-5-1 in Musgrove’s last 23 starts after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2-1 in Musgrove’s last 9 starts after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Musgrove’s last 11 starts during game 1 of a series.
Over is 5-2 in Musgrove’s last 7 road starts.
Over is 7-0 in Phillies last 7 Monday games.
Under is 8-2 in Phillies last 10 vs. National League Central.
Under is 5-2 in Phillies last 7 overall.
Under is 5-2 in Phillies last 7 on grass.
Under is 5-2-1 in Phillies last 8 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 4-0 in Vargas’ last 4 starts on grass.
Under is 4-0 in Vargas’ last 4 starts overall.
Under is 7-1-3 in the last 11 meetings in Philadelphia.
Under is 19-6-4 in the last 29 meetings.
Pirates are 2-8 in the last 10 meetings.
Pirates are 0-4 in the last 4 meetings in Philadelphia.
