Pittsburgh Pirates vs Baltimore Orioles Prediction: Orioles to show character again

The Baltimore Orioles and the Pittsburgh Pirates will face off on Friday in MLB action at PNC Park. Here's a preview of the game along with betting options.

The Pittsburgh Pirates recently wrapped up a series against the Washington Nationals. They won the first game on Monday with a score of 8-4, but suffered a 5-3 loss in the Wednesday matchup. However, they bounced back in the series finale on Thursday, securing a 7-4 victory with an impressive performance, highlighted by four runs scored in the first inning. Connor Joe, who scored two runs and hit a homer, along with Rowdy Tellez, who contributed two hits, each managed to rack up a pair of RBIs in the game.

Taking the mound for the Pirates on Friday will be Jared Jones. In his first start of the year, Jones pitched 5.2 innings against the Marlins, allowing three earned runs while striking out 10 batters. This marked Jones' debut start in the MLB, and he currently holds a 4.76 ERA in the early stages of the season.

The Baltimore Orioles just concluded a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals earlier this week. They secured a 6-4 victory on Monday but suffered a 4-1 loss in the second game. However, they managed to clinch the series with a narrow 4-3 win in the rubber match. James McCann of the Baltimore Orioles had an impactful performance with two hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Starting pitcher Corbin Burnes pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on nine hits.

Taking the mound for the Friday game will be Grayson Rodriguez for the Baltimore Orioles. In his first start of the year, Rodriguez earned a win by pitching 6.0 innings of one-run ball against the Angels. Overall, Rodriguez holds a career record of 8-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 24 total starts.

I'm favoring the Baltimore Orioles in this matchup. The team should benefit from a strong performance by Rodriguez, especially if he maintains his current momentum. In his recent victory against the Los Angeles Angels, Rodriguez conceded just one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out nine over 6.0 innings. Additionally, the Orioles' offense has been consistent, scoring four or more runs in four out of their six games so far.

Conversely, the Pittsburgh Pirates started the season strongly offensively, scoring six or more runs in each of their first five games, all of which they won. In their most recent game, they recorded 11 hits, displaying a commendable offensive effort. However, I don't anticipate them keeping pace with the Baltimore Orioles if the Orioles continue to perform well.