Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction: Pirates to keep their run intact

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Nationals are set to face off on Monday in MLB action at Nationals Park. Let's analyze this matchup from a betting standpoint and identify the most promising bets for this game.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are about to have their first home game of the season, following a 1-2 series loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Their pitching staff has struggled, allowing at least 6 runs in every game so far. While it's early in the season, these pitching woes are causing concern, especially for those who predicted the Nationals to finish last in the National League East.

Jesse Walker leads the Nationals with 5 hits and 1 RBI, while Joey Meneses and Keibert Ruiz have contributed a combined 9 hits and 4 RBIs. MacKenzie Gore will be the starting pitcher for the Nationals, having recorded a 7-10 record with a 4.42 ERA and 151 strikeouts last season. This will be Gore's second career game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Interestingly, the Nationals have lost their last four games as favorites against National League Central opponents and have failed to cover the run line in their last 10 games as favorites against National League opponents.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off an impressive 4-game sweep of the Miami Marlins and have been a surprise standout in the league during the first week. Despite low initial expectations, they are among the four remaining unbeaten teams in MLB. The Pirates' offense has been particularly strong, scoring at least 6 runs in every game so far this season. Ke'Bryan Hayes leads the team with 8 hits and 4 RBIs, with Bryan Reynolds and Connor Joe contributing a combined 12 hits and 8 RBIs.

Marco Gonzales will be the starting pitcher for the Pirates, having posted a 4-1 record with a 5.22 ERA and 34 strikeouts last season. This will be Gonzales' second career game against the Washington Nationals. Notably, the Pirates have won their last four games as road underdogs and have covered the run line in their last seven road games.

Expert Betting Tips

I didn't anticipate either the Pittsburgh Pirates or the Washington Nationals to excel this season, so I'll simply leave it to chance. The pitching duel between Gonzales and Gore isn't particularly thrilling either. Nevertheless, with the Pittsburgh Pirates' impressive offensive streak, I think they're a team worth supporting until they cool down. Hence, I expect this game to be tight, but considering the Pirates' current form, I'm backing them against weaker teams like Washington.