Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Odds, Prediction

Payton Matthews | Updated May 04, 2023

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The Jays make a rare visit to arguably the best ballpark in the major leagues, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, on Friday to open a three-game weekend series.

Toronto
89-73
AT
May 05, 2023, 6:35 PM ET
PNC Park
Pittsburgh
76-86
Runline -1.5 -104
Moneyline -175
Over / Under o +9

74%

Betting Action

26%

Matchup Odds
Runline +1.5 -116
Moneyline +143
Over / Under u +9

74%

Betting Action

26%

Matchup Odds

The Toronto Blue Jays make a rare visit to arguably the best ballpark in the major leagues, Pittsburgh’s PNC Park, on Friday to open a three-game weekend series. The Jays are -150 favourites on the MLB odds.

Jays vs. Pirates Betting Analysis

Pittsburgh’s Derek Shelton entered the season among the favourites as the first manager to be fired as the team had finished well below .500 each of his first three years, but the Bucs are off to a very good start and the penny-pinching franchise already has extended Shelton, although no terms were announced. His contract was to expire after this season. 

The Pirates are without their most exciting player in 6-foot-7 Oneil Cruz, the tallest every-day starting shortstop in the majors. He won’t likely return before late August with a fractured ankle. That injury is what makes Pittsburgh’s record all the more surprising. 

The teams did play three games last year also in Pittsburgh and the Jays swept by an average score of 4.0-1.3. Toronto leads the all-time interleague matchup 11-7. 

Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays surely will be glad to get out of Boston as their four-game set against the Red Sox to open this week was largely a pitching disaster, although during the series Matt Chapman learned he was named the AL Player of the Month for April. Right-hander Chris Bassitt (3-2, 5.18 ERA) takes the hill Friday. He had a streak of four straight quality starts end last Sunday, allowing four runs over five in a no-decision vs. Seattle. Bassitt is 2-1 with a 6.32 ERA on the road. Last year with the Mets, he faced the Pirates twice and was 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Carlos Santana is 3-for-9 off him with two homers. Bryan Reynolds, who recently got a big extension from Pittsburgh, is 2-for-7. The Jays are 4-0 in their past four Friday games. 

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates were swept three games at MLB-best Tampa Bay to open this week and had to use four key relievers in Thursday’s loss because starter Vince Velasquez left early injured. Pittsburgh has one Canadian on the roster in reliever Rob Zastryzny of Edmonton, but he hasn’t pitched since mid-April due to injury and is out several weeks. The oldest player in the major leagues is 43-year-old Bucs lefty Rich Hill (3-2, 4.18 ERA), who takes the mound Friday. Pittsburgh is his 12th career team, making him the 11th player in league history to play for that many teams or more. Hill has never won a World Series. The Pirates have won his past three with Hill allowing three earned over 16.1 innings. He is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts at home. Hill has pitched 32.2 career innings vs. the Jays and is 1-2 with a 4.96 ERA. Brandon Belt is 6-for-15 with two doubles and a homer career off Hill. George Springer is 4-for-12 with a double, triple and homer. The Pirates are 8-3 in their past 11 series openers. 

MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Jays vs. Pirates?

SportsInteraction
  • TOR
  • -175 +143
  • PIT
Matchup MLB Odds