Phillies vs Pirates predictions
If you’re keeping an eye on the Philadelphia Phillies for this matchup, you’ve probably noticed a few names really starting to heat up. Trea Turner looks poised to keep that batting average swinging, and I can see him reaching base at least once if not twice, maybe sneaking in a steal along the way. Kyle Schwarber, always a threat, has been locked in with the long ball, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him drive one over the fence while tacking on an RBI or two. Don’t sleep on Alec Bohm either—his ability to find the gaps makes him a candidate to rack up a couple of hits and drive in some runs. On the mound, Cristopher Sanchez is quietly stringing together solid starts, and with his strikeout ability, he should be good for a handful of punchouts while keeping the Pirates’ bats in check through the middle innings.
Looking at the Pittsburgh Pirates side, Andrew McCutchen still leads by example, and it feels like he’s due for a multi-hit night with a possible walk added for good measure. Oneil Cruz, with his pop and speed, is a real wild card in this lineup—I expect at least one extra-base hit and the potential for a stolen base if he gets on. Bryan Reynolds has been fairly consistent all season, and I’m seeing him with a nice line: a couple of knocks, maybe even flirting with a home run if Sanchez leaves one up. On the bump, Paul Skenes is the x-factor for Pittsburgh; if he’s hitting his spots and missing bats like he’s capable of, he could rack up six or more strikeouts and make things tough on the Phillies through the first five frames.
So, who’s walking away with the win at PNC Park? It feels like a really balanced matchup, with both teams sending out pitchers who can dominate and offenses that have their big moments. But given the way the Phillies bats have been producing and their ability to get timely base runners and extra-base hits, I’m leaning toward Philadelphia snapping their skid with a close one. The Pirates don’t make it easy at home and Skenes could make things dicey, but Philly’s lineup has the edge here when it matters. What do you think—are the Phillies ready to turn the tide, or is Pittsburgh primed for a surprise?
