Pittsburgh Pirates (15-30) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (26-18)
Game Details: Saturday, May 17, 2025 @ 6:05 pm EST
Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
C. Mlodzinski (R) vs. Z. Wheeler (R)
Where to Watch: MLB.TV
The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the second game of a three-game set. It took a little longer for the Phillies’ offense to come alive, but they pulled away from the Pirates in the seventh and eighth innings of last night’s game. While Pittsburgh tried to mount a late rally, it fell short and Philadelphia won 8-4. It won’t get easier for the Pirates as they have to face the ace of the staff on Saturday, Zach Wheeler.
Betting Odds
| Team | Spread | Total Runs | Money Line |
 | +1.5 (+124) | Over 8.5 (-118) | +245 |
 | -1.5 (-148) | Under 8.5 (-102) | -305 |
Apex Tale of The Tape
| Team Stats | |
| 3.07 | Runs/G | 4.70 |
| .220 | BA | .258 |
| .301 | OBP | .337 |
| .327 | SLG | .401 |
| .628 | OPS | .738 |
| 32 | HR | 45 |
| 49 | SB | 39 |
| 4.11 | ERA | 3.90 |
| 1.28 | WHIP | 1.26 |
| 7.36 | K/9 | 9.69 |
| .983 | Fielding Percentage | .990 |
| 8 | Saves | 14 |
Projected Starting Pitchers H2H
| Carmen Mlodzinski | Player Stats | Zach Wheeler |
| 1-3 | W/L | 4-1 |
| 5.20 | ERA | 2.95 |
| 36.1 | IP | 58.0 |
| 1.54 | WHIP | 0.91 |
| 26 | K | 74 |
| 11 | BB | 11 |
Key Stats
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates got a big performance out of right fielder Alexander Canario last night. He went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a home run. Outside of him, the rest of the team had only five hits. It’s par for the course in 2025 for this offense. A lack of consistency and pop puts a ton of pressure on the pitching staff to keep things close.
Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski takes the mound against the Phillies. In his last start, he pitched 5.2 innings, giving up only four hits, walking one, and striking out two. His home/away splits are something to watch in this game. On the road, Mlodzinski is 0-2 with a 6.62 ERA, and he is facing one of the best offenses in the league.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies looked a little slow coming out of the rain delay yesterday. The Pirates took a 3-1 lead heading into the final three frames. Then, the offense woke up. Bryce Harper went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Nick Castellanos drove in another two despite not getting a hit (hit by a pitch with bases loaded and a fielder’s choice). Trea Turner also stayed hot going 2 for 5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.
Early Cy Young Award candidate Zach Wheeler takes the mound. He threw a gem in his last start against the Cleveland Guardians. Over 7.0 innings, he only gave up three hits and a walk, while striking out eight batters. Furthermore, at home he is 2-0 with a 2.18 ERA and faces one of the worst offenses in the majors.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends
| Betting Stats | |
| 3-7 | W/L 10 | 7-3 |
| 18-27 | ATS | 22-22 |
| 17-25-3 | O/U | 20-23-1 |
Prediction
Zach Wheeler is good at home. Carmen Mlodzinski is bad on the road. The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best offenses in the league. The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the worst offenses in the league. Don’t overthink it. Give me the Phillies spread.
