Philadelphia Phillies vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction: Pirates to get it right this time

The MLB clash between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Philadelphia Phillies kicks off at Citizens Bank Park this Friday, marking the commencement of a thrilling four-game series. Which team will strike first and seize the advantage in this highly anticipated showdown?

The Philadelphia Phillies recently faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game series. They started strong with a 5-3 victory on Monday but stumbled with a 0-3 loss in the second game. The rubber match on Wednesday saw the Phillies clinch a narrow 4-3 win, supported by eight hits from the team. Aaron Nola delivered a solid performance with 6.0 innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on three hits and three walks.

For the upcoming Friday game, the Philadelphia Phillies will rely on Ranger Suarez as their starting pitcher. Suarez boasts a 1-0 record this season with a 4.09 ERA and 11 strikeouts across 11.0 innings in his two starts. Throughout his career spanning 136 games (68 starts), Suarez holds a commendable record of 30 wins and 21 losses with a 3.43 ERA.

Following this series, the Philadelphia Phillies are set to face the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds. Notably, they have encountered challenges in recent matchups as favorites against National League Central opponents, losing their last four games and failing to cover the run line in their last seven such matchups after a win.

The Pittsburgh Pirates recently engaged in a two-game series against the Detroit Tigers. They secured a victory in Monday's game with a score of 7-4 but suffered a 3-5 loss in the second game, resulting in a split series. Despite the defeat, Edward Olivares of the Pittsburgh Pirates had an impressive performance, hitting a pair of solo home runs. Ke'Bryan Hayes also contributed with two hits and an RBI.

Taking the mound as the starting pitcher for game one of the Pittsburgh Pirates series is Jared Jones. In his first two starts in the MLB, Jones holds a record of 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA, tallying 17 strikeouts across 11.2 innings pitched.

Looking ahead to this game, the Pittsburgh Pirates have shown resilience as road underdogs, winning their last four games in such situations. Additionally, they have covered the run line in their last eight road games following a loss, showcasing their ability to bounce back after setbacks.

I'm taking a risk on the Pittsburgh Pirates in this game. The Pirates have had a couple of strong starts from Jones this year. He pitched 5.2 innings with three earned runs against the Miami Marlins in his debut, then suffered a loss against the Baltimore Orioles with 6.0 innings and two earned runs. A solid performance from Jones would put the Pittsburgh Pirates in a good position, provided that Hayes and the team can generate some offense. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies had a well-rounded offensive game on Wednesday, getting RBIs from Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Nick Castellanos. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Phillies perform well again on Thursday, but ultimately, I believe the Pirates have a good chance of securing a victory.