Pirates vs Padres Odds and Picks – Keller vs Weathers (May 4)
- The San Diego Padres host the Pittsburgh Pirates at 10:10 pm ET, Wednesday, at Petco Park
- Mitch Keller (1-3, 8.20 ERA) will start for the Pirates while the Padres are expected to pitch Ryan Weathers (1-0, 0.55)
- Read below for a preview and prediction on the game
The Padres are hot and the Pittsburgh Pirates are not heading into their matchup at 10:10 p.m. ET Tuesday at Petco Park in San Diego.
San Diego has won four of its last five games to improve to 17-13. Included in that stretch was a 2-0 win over the Pirates on Monday night in the three-game series opener.
The Pirates have lost five in a row since inching over .500, dropping their record to 12-16.
Pirates vs Padres Odds
Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total at DraftKings |
---|---|---|---|
Pittsburgh Pirates | +188 | +1.5 (-120) | Over 7.5 (-118) |
San Diego Padres | -225 | -1.5 (-100) | Under 7.5 (-104) |
Odds as of May 4th.
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Keller Killing Pirates
Mitch Keller will start for the Pirates and the front office along with manager Derek Shelton believe the 25-year-old can be a large part of the rebuilding franchise’s future.
However, Keller has been a disappointment since making his MLB debut in 2019. In 21 career starts, he has a 3-9 record and 6.21 ERA.
Keller’s last outing last Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals was particularly frustrating. He needed 83 pitches to record just seven outs in the game that started the Pirates’ current skid, allowing four runs and five walks in 2.1 innings.
Ben Cherington on Mitch Keller: "Look, he’s frustrated by the inconsistency. He’s working hard. I really believe in what he’s working on. It‘s important that he continues to pitch."
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) May 1, 2021
It appeared Keller was ready to turn the corner last September. He had back-to-back hitless outings of six innings against the St. Louis Cardinals and five innings versus the Cleveland Indians to finish the 2020 season.
Can't hit Mitch.
Mitch Keller becomes the first N.L. pitcher with back-to-back no-hit outings of 5+ innings since Johnny Vander Meer in 1938.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/RkboorvinR
— Pirates (@Pirates) September 26, 2020
Keller’s career numbers against the Padres, though limited, are scary bad. San Diego’s projected starting lineup is 8 for 12 against him. If Austin Nola starts at catcher instead of Victor Caratini, then that figure goes to 10 for 12.
Padres Career Stats vs Keller
Player | AB | H | HR | RBI | K | AVG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trent Grisham | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .667 |
Fernando Tatis Jr. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Manny Machado | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
Eric Hosmer | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
Jake Cronenworth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
Wil Myers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Jurickson Profar | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .667 |
Victor Caratini | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Keller has faced the Padres only once in his career and lost, getting tagged for seven runs in 3.1 innings on April 15 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Padres’ Rotation Banged Up
The Padres’ rotation is banged up and all the injuries caused Jayce Tingler demur to name a starter for Tuesday’s game following Monday night’s win.
Rookie left-hander Ryan Weathers (arm fatigue) and Dinelson Lamet (forearm soreness) both left their last starts early. Chris Paddack was placed on the injured list last week because of undisclosed reasons.
The Padres went with a bullpen game Monday night.
Both Weathers and Lamet were spotted playing catch in the outfield before the game. The consensus seems to be Weathers will most likely get the call.
Both Lamet and Weathers throwing with rest of pitching staff today. Tingler says team is waiting to see how both are feeling, and should be able to announce tomorrow’s starter after tonight’s game. #Padres pic.twitter.com/LzKJxMaKRU
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) May 3, 2021
Weathers was pulled after one inning in his previous start last Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. However, he has been outstanding in three starts and three relief appearances this season.
The 21-year-old son of former MLB reliever David Weathers has allowed only one run and four hits in 16.1 innings. He also has 16 strikeouts and six walks.
Weather’s slider has been unhittable.
6 pitchers have a pitch type they've yet to allow a hit on this year (min 20 PA ending on pitch):
Shohei Ohtani splitter (20 PA ending on pitch)
Will Smith slider (21 PA)
Carlos Rodón slider (31 PA)
Ryan Weathers slider (20 PA)
Bryan Shaw cutter (29 PA)
Dustin May curve (23 PA)— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 3, 2021
Weathers has never faced the Pirates or anyone on their active roster in a big league game.
Pirates Career Stats vs Weathers
Player | AB | H | HR | RBI | K | AVG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adam Frazier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Bryan Reynolds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Todd Frazier | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Erik Gonzalez | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Phillip Evans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Wilmer Difo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 000 |
Jacob Stallings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Kevin Newman | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
Monday Night Baseball
The Padres won Monday night despite being no-hit through six innings by Pirates left-hander Tyler Anderson.
Wil Myers finally broke through with a single in the seventh right after Manny Machado drew a leadoff walk. Following Myers’ hit, Tommy Pham hit a sacrifice fly and Nola added an RBI single to account for all the game’s scoring.
There goes the no-hitter
shutout
tie game pic.twitter.com/f7DLFbzicu— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 4, 2021
Miguel Diaz, Craig Stammen, Austin Adams, Tim Hill, Drew Pomeranz and Mark Melancon combined on a four-hit shutout.
Fade The Pirates
Regardless of who winds up starting for the Padres, San Diego is the play on runline. once it is posted. Fading the Pirates and Keller makes all the sense in the world in this one.