Pirates vs Blue Jays Pick – MLB Predictions & Odds 5/5/23

The Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates meet Friday in MLB action at PNC Park. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

The Toronto Blue Jays have scored 14 runs in their last 3 games and 4 or more runs in 6 of their last 9 games. The Blue Jays have lost 4 straight games when scoring 4 or more runs. Bo Bichette leads the Blue Jays with 45 hits and 22 RBI, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Matt Chapman have combined for 81 hits and 41 RBI. Chris Bassitt gets the ball, and he is 3-2 with a 5.18 ERA and 28 strikeouts this season. Bassitt is 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 24 strikeouts in his career against the Pirates.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have scored 4 runs in their last 3 games and 3 or fewer runs in 5 of their last 10 games. The Pirates have lost 4 straight games when scoring 3 or fewer runs. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with 37 hits and 23 RBI, while Carlos Santana and Ke’Bryan Hayes have combined for 57 hits and 28 RBI. Rich Hill gets the ball, and he is 3-2 with a 4.18 ERA and 27 strikeouts this season. Hill is 1-2 with a 4.96 ERA and 25 strikeouts in his career against the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays are 35-16 in their last 51 during game 1 of a series and 4-0 in their last 4 Friday games. The Pirates are 6-1 in their last 7 home games and 19-43 in their last 62 Friday games. The over is 4-0 in Blue Jays last 4 overall. The over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 overall. The Blue Jays are 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Pittsburgh and 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.

The Toronto Blue Jays have the pitching edge with Bassitt on the mound, but they’re on the road, and they’ve had bad luck this week where the offense shows up, and they still lose. The Pittsburgh Pirates remain one of the best teams in the league, and getting plus money with them at home feels like a value spot. Rich Hill has also settled in a bit, and maybe he’s not completely washed? Give me the Pirates and the more favorable price.