Giants vs. Pirates (June 17): Is Pittsburgh a potential value pick at home?

After playing eight games on the road against two of the best teams in the National League, things don’t get any easier for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they return home for a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.

And they get their toughest matchup right out of the gate in tonight’s opener, as they face off against NL Cy Young Award contender Carlos Rodon.

But the games are played on the field and not on paper, and there could actually be some value in putting your money on the Pirates in this matchup.

San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Odds and Matchup Information

Matchup Information

• Matchup: San Francisco Giants (35-27, 16-13 road, 3rd in the NL West) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-37, 13-17 home, 3rd in the NL Central)
• Venue & Location: PNC Park (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
• Date: Friday, June 17, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 p.m. Eastern Time (
• TV Broadcast/Streaming Info: NBC Sports Bay Area (Giants), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh (Pirates), MLB Extra Innings/MLB.TV (subscription packages)

Giants vs. Pirates Pitching Matchup

• San Francisco Giants: Carlos Rodon (2022: 12 starts, 5-4, 3.18 ERA)
• Pittsburgh Pirates: Zach Thompson (2022: 12 appearances – 11 starts, 3-4, 4.50 ERA)

Giants vs. Pirates Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline. Odds from our other top reviewed and recommended sportsbooks may also be featured in this article.

Moneyline

• San Francisco Giants -205
• Pittsburgh Pirates +172

Over/Under

• OVER 8 (-115)
• UNDER 8 (-105)

Run Line

• San Francisco Giants -1.5 (-125)
• Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (+104)

Rodon Seeks to End Winless Road Run in Pittsburgh

Carlos Rodon won his first two road starts this season, but he has come up empty on his travels with the Giants since then.

Only one of the four starts has been bad, as he got roughed up by the Cardinals in a loss in St. Louis last month. But poor run support let him down in two losses and the bullpen let him down in a no-decision against the Phillies earlier this month.

The Pirates are headed for another losing season, which would be their fourth one in a row, and they had lost nine straight games until a 6-4 win over the Cardinals on Wednesday.

But the Giants would be silly to dismiss the Pirates, given that they are 9-6 overall against the NL West, including a 5-1 mark against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The New York Yankees may be on pace for 121 wins this season, but the Dodgers are still considered by many–including oddsmakers–to be the 2022 World Series favorite.

If Thompson continues on the positive track he is on, he can trouble the Giants tonight.

2022 Season Splits for Zach Thompson

• First Four Appearances (Four Starts): 0-3, 10.05 ERA, 14.1 IP, 23 H, 21 R (16 ER), 9 BB, 12 K
• Last Eight Appearances (Seven Starts): 3-1, 2.27 ERA, 35.2 IP, 27 H, 9 R (9 ER), 9 BB, 27 K

In his first seven starts, Thompson gave up four or more runs three times. But in his last seven starts, he has given up four or more runs only once.

Given that the Giants have scored fewer than four runs six times in their last nine games, they could certainly find themselves in a spot of bother against Thompson tonight.

San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction and Best Bets

Giants vs. Pirates Prediction: Pirates to win

Giants vs. Pirates Best Bets: Pirates +1.5 (+104 at BetOnline) & Pirates ML (+180 at Bovada Sportsbook)

The Giants are certainly heavily favored for a reason. But there’s a lot to like about Thompson’s upswing in form since his rough April, along with what the Pirates have done against the NL West thus far, and a small play on the home team is definitely worth your consideration tonight.

Other MLB Content Today on Betting News (Friday, June 17)

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