Pirates vs Phillies Picks and Prediction – 5/17/2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates play the second game of a three-game series on the road Saturday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Pittsburgh is 15-29 following its 4-0 victory on Wednesday over the New York Mets. Matt Gorski and Jared Triolo each hit two-run home runs for the Pirates. Pittsburgh is last in the National League Central, 10 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs. Keep up to date with all the MLB action with our MLB picks.

Joey Bart is batting .272 to lead Pittsburgh and has a team-high .394 on-base percentage. Oneil Cruz is the leader in home runs with eight, while Bryan Reynolds has a team-best 20 RBI, and Ke’Bryan Hayes is the leader in hits with 40. On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send Carmen Mlodzinski to the mound. The right-hander is 1-3 with a 5.20 ERA, 26 Ks, and 11 BBs.

The Philadelphia Phillies dropped to 25-18 following a 14-7 loss to the St Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the second half of a doubleheader after winning the opener 2-1. Philadelphia is 11th in runs scored and 14th in ERA. Philadelphia has lost two of the last three, and the Phillies are second in the National League East, 2 ½ games behind the first-place New York Mets. 

Trea Turner is batting .299 with 50 hits to lead Philadelphia in both categories. Kyle Schwarber is the leader in home runs with 15, RBI with 33, and on-base percentage at .393. Philadelphia is batting .257 with a .402 slugging percentage. On Saturday, Philadelphia will send Zack Wheeler to the mound. The right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA, 74 Ks, and 11 BBs.

Philadelphia will win at home on Saturday when hosting Pittsburgh, but the play here is UNDER. The UNDER has cashed in seven of Pittsburgh's last eight and four of Philadelphia's last five. Pittsburgh starter Carmen Mlodzinski has had three consecutive solid outings, allowing four runs on 14 hits across 14.1 innings. Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler has had five consecutive solid outings, allowing eight runs on 20 hits across 32.2 innings. Final Score Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies win but our best play is UNDER 4-2.