Pirates vs Mariners Picks and Prediction – 7/6/2025

As Seattle looks to cap off a crucial homestand before the All-Star break, the Pittsburgh Pirates (38–51) arrive with budding momentum—they’ve won six straight and recorded three consecutive shutouts. The Seattle Mariners (45–42), meanwhile, are clinging to a Wild Card spot in the AL West and aim to capitalize with rookie George Kirby on the mound. Anticipate a high-stakes duel under the Pacific Northwest skies. Get in on the action with our free MLB picks.

Pittsburgh enters with a modest rebuild in progress, but the emergence of young ace Paul Skenes (4–7, 2.03 ERA on the road) has buoyed fan optimism—he was initially slotted to start today, though Game 3 features backup arms as Pittsburgh navigates workload. Despite pockets of promise, the Pirates' offense remains a concern, batting just .213 in road games and averaging a mere 1.7 runs when Skenes starts—a trend they’ll need to buck if they hope to win here. 

On the mound for Seattle is 27-year-old George Kirby (2–4, 4.85 ERA), who’s looked sharp since returning from shoulder inflammation. In his last two outings, Kirby posted sub-2.00 ERAs and fanned 14 over seven innings in a shutout victory against the Angels—his strikeout prowess and command are returning nicely. At the plate, the Mariners have averaged an eye-opening 6 runs per game, anchored by Cal Raleigh’s 35 homers and consistent production with runners on.

With the momentum Pittsburgh has after their recent win streak, and the best arm in baseball on the mound, they are the clear side here. Seattle will be a tough opponent, but we will be taking a play on the Pittsburgh Pirates to win this one by a score of 4-3.