On Saturday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (38-50) face off against the Seattle Mariners (45-41) at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Seattle comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games prior to their series finale against Kansas City and series opener against Pittsburgh. In their narrow 3-2 victory over Kansas City, Randy Arozarena played a key role for the Mariners, delivering two hits in three at-bats, including a home run. He finished the night with two RBIs and added a run scored to his stat line. Over the course of this season, Seattle’s top power hitter has been Cal Raleigh, who has launched 33 home runs, more than any other Mariner. Arozarena trails as the team’s second-best long ball threat, having hit 12 home runs so far this year. Cal Raleigh has also been Seattle’s most productive player when it comes to driving in runs, leading the club with 71 RBIs entering the stretch run. When it comes to getting on base, J.P. Crawford boasts the best batting average among Mariners regulars, hitting an impressive .283. Recently, the Mariners’ offense has remained steady, averaging 4 runs per game in their last five games. This consistent scoring has helped Seattle maintain a two-game advantage over the Angels in the American League Wild Card standings. Hoping to extend their winning ways, the Mariners now turn their attention to the Pirates, who have been in excellent form themselves. Overall this season, Seattle has averaged 4.6 runs per contest, keeping them competitive in the race for postseason play.

Pittsburgh enters this game on a six-game winning streak prior to their series opener against Seattle. In their recent 5-0 victory over St. Louis, Pirates starter Mitch Keller delivered an impressive performance on the mound. Keller pitched a strong seven innings, giving up just five hits and one walk while shutting out the Cardinals and recording seven strikeouts. On the offensive side, Oneil Cruz has been the power leader for Pittsburgh this season, topping the team with 15 home runs. Bryan Reynolds ranks second in home runs for the Pirates, having hit 10 so far, and he leads the club in runs batted in, driving in a total of 45 runs this year. Andrew McCutchen is setting the pace in terms of batting average, currently hitting .269, which is the highest among the team’s regular starters. Offensively, the Pirates have been on a hot streak lately, averaging 6.8 runs per game over their last five contests. Despite this surge, Pittsburgh still trails both San Diego and St. Louis by nine games in the race for the National League’s third wild card spot. Although the Pirates have struggled for much of the season, they’ve shown signs of life in recent games and hope to build on their newfound momentum. Overall this season, Pittsburgh averages 3.5 runs per game.

Sports Pick Info Podcast Friday September 4, 2020