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A rare inter-league matchup on the diamond is scheduled to take place as the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates go to battle on Tuesday evening. Join us for our MLB odds series, where our Yankees-Pirates prediction and pick will take place.
After winning yet another series over the weekend over the Guardians, the Yankees will have their eyes focused upon their next opponent in the Pirates. While Pittsburgh hasn't presented a ginormous challenge for many squads this season, New York still needs to avoid the letdown by coming out sharp. Getting the start in this opening game of the series is RHP Jameson Taillon, who is a remarkable 9-1 with a 3.32 ERA.
The Pirates are fresh off a 2-0 shutout defeat at the hands of the Brewers, but Pittsburgh was still able to split the series with Milwaukee to improve their overall record to 32-47, which is good for third place in the NL Central. Eager to inch their way back to the .500 mark, the Pirates will send out left-handed veteran Jose Quintana. The former White Sox and Cubs hurler is 1-4 with a 3.43 in 2022.
Courtesy of FanDuel, here are the Yankees-Pirates MLB odds.
MLB odds: Yankees-Pirates Odds
New York Yankees: -1.5 (-120)
Pittsburgh Pirates: +1.5 (+100)
Over: 9 (-112)
Under: 9 (-108)
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Why The Yankees Could Cover the Spread
Although the Yankees are entering this contest after getting shut out by Cleveland on Sunday, the arguably best team on the face of the planet should endure an offensive explosion if they are going to cover the spread at PNC Park. This matchup between the ‘Yanks and Pirates are usually two clubs that lack the familiarity in meeting up with one another, as both sides last met technically during Spring Training when New York took advantage of Pittsburgh 7-4.
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You don't see the Yankees get shut out very often, but that's exactly what happened on Sunday when New York mustered up a single hit. Don't expect this to be the case again. On the season, the Yankees have only hit .238 collectively which ranks out at the tenth worst mark in the league. However, they have scored the most runs in all of baseball with 403 total. One home run away from 30, Aaron Judge will be a name to watch against the lefty Quintana, as the towering slugger typically rakes against lefties in comparison to righties.
The pitching staff is considered to be even more lethal, as the Yankees hold the top spots when it comes to earned-run average and WHIP. Considered a top prospect within the Pittsburgh rotation, Taillon experienced four years in Pittsburgh before trading in the black and yellow for the Yankee pinstripes. Taillon has called the Bronx his home for two seasons now, and he is now having the career year he's always been looking for. A heavy dose of Taillon may be the Yanks' best chance to cover the spread.
Why The Pirates Could Cover the Spread
After losing 101 games in 2021, the 2022 version of the Pirates is actually a much-improved bunch from years past. A combined better effort from their approach at the plate and on the mound has supplemented Pittsburgh with a better chance each game to come out victorious. Even though they sit well behind the playoff race in their division and the NL Wild Card, fans within the Steel City have to be pleased with the improvement that the Pirates have shown this season.
Don't get it twisted, the Pirates are still a bottom-five club statistically hitting and pitching-wise, but their knack for getting timely hits has certainly increased throughout the campaign. Reaching base and causing chaos may be the Pirates' best bet on Tuesday. The general betting public isn't giving the lesser Pirates much of a chance against the Goliath-like New York Yankees, but anything can happen in a single baseball game.
Can Quintana continue what the Guardians started after the Yankees were shut out on Sunday? It may be possible. In his five career starts when pitted against New York, Quintana is an even 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA.
Final Yankees-Pirates Prediction & Pick
On paper, this one shouldn't be close, but the sport of baseball provides even the worst of teams to garner a victory with a stellar performance from the plate or even the hill. Pittsburgh's best chance is to silence the Yankees bats while stringing together hits to keep the pressure on New York. With Taillon's recent dominance on the mound, consider this an extremely difficult challenge for the Pirates at home.
Final Yankees-Pirates Pick: Yankees -1.5 (-120)
