Their playoff hopes gone, both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Colorado Rockies were sellers at the trade deadline. But there’s plenty left to play for.
With both teams rebuilding, the last two months offer many of these players a chance to prove they belong. New call-ups are looking to get footholds on the roster. Young players want to prove they’re part of the future. And the veteran holdovers look to establish value, either for their home club or on the trade market.
There’s more at stake for the Rockies. After the Chicago White Sox set the 162-game record for futility last season, winning just 41 games, Colorado is threatening that just a year later. Yet to record its 30th win, it’ll need to compete to avoid making the wrong kind of history. Games against the Pirates, another team familiar with futility, are an opportunity to make inroads.
The Pirates are -206 favorites on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under is set at 10 runs. Let’s dig into a Pirates-Rockies prediction and pick.
Pirates vs. Rockies prediction, pick
Boy is there a gap in this pitching matchup. The Pirates get to trot out Paul Skenes, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, for this one. Allowing the fewest home runs per nine innings in the MLB, his mettle will be tested in the mountains at Coors Field.
Austin Gomber is no stranger to allowing home runs. The owner of a 6.26 ERA this year, Gomber allowed 30 dingers last season, the most in the National League. On the bright side for him, this Pirates’ offense is one of the worst. But you wouldn’t know it watching Friday’s game. The Buccos racked up nine runs in the top of the first inning, including this sweet swing from Oneil Cruz:
Famously, Paul Skenes has not received run support this year. But at Coors, and facing Gomber, he should get the support he needs to deliver for the Pirates.
