Pittsburgh Pirates
| Betting Overview | |
|---|---|
| Divisional Odds | +3800 |
| Pennant Odds | +8000 |
| World Series Odds | +20000 |
| Regular Season Wins | 67.5 |
| To Make Playoffs | Yes +1500 / No -5000 |
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Best Bet: Over 67.5 Wins
Mike Ianniello: You’d be hard-pressed to find a fanbase that deserves better than Pittsburgh Pirates fans. Pittsburgh is one of the best sports towns in the country, yet the Yinzers are stuck watching a team every year assembled by an owner who continues to not care. The Pirates have missed the playoffs seven straight years and have just three postseason appearances in the last 29 years.
The Buccos won just 62 games last season, the third-worst record in the league. However, I see a reason for some optimism this year. Will they contend for the postseason? No. But they should be fun to watch and resemble a competent ball club this year. Last year, the Pirates were basically a Triple-A team. Daniel Vogelbach was second on the team in wRC+ and played just 75 games with Pittsburgh.
Well, this season we will actually see some major league-caliber players take the field along the Allegheny River. The Pirates continue to work on a contract extension for All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds, and young stars Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes are an electric duo on the left side of the infield that should only continue to improve.
This offseason they added Ji-Man Choi, Carlos Santana, Austin Hedges, and of course the return of former MVP, Andrew McCutchen. The longtime face of the franchise will provide an instant injection of life into that locker room and the fan base. Not to mention he is just one year removed from a 27-home run season.
A talented group of young arms in Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras and JT Brubaker are joined by veterans Rich Hill and Vince Velasquez, and Pittsburgh somehow always manages to have a stud closer. I think we see a big jump up from this Pirates team. Even league-average players throughout the lineup is an upgrade from last season.
Take the Pirates to raise the jolly roger at least 68 times this season.
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