Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins Prediction: Can Zach Thompson Start the Second Half Hot at Home?

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins Prediction: Can Zach Thompson Start the Second Half Hot at Home?

The Pirates will start their first game of the second half in a three-game series from the beautiful PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They will be taking on the visiting Marlins, who lost yesterday against the Rangers. The Pirates stumbled into the all-star break, going 1-4 over their last five, but they did win their most recent game. That was also in the midst of a lengthy road trip for the Pirates. The Marlins are struggling as well, to say the least. They are 1-4 over their last five as well, losing their previous four. Can the Pirates get off on the right foot in the second half?

Pirates vs. Marlins Start Time Where to Watch and Odds

• Date: July 22, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 pm ET
• Where to Watch: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, Bally Sports Florida, MLB Extra Innings

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Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins Line Movement

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins Prediction

The Miami Marlins are a mess offensively. They are in a unique position to set a franchise record tonight, but not a record you want to break. The Marlins have gone scoreless in 34 straight innings, last scoring in the second inning against the Phillies back on July 15. The franchise record is 37 consecutive scoreless innings, so if the Marlins enter the fourth inning without a run tonight, they will have tied the all-time franchise record.

They have already tied another bad franchise record as well. The Marlins have gone nine games without a home run, which tied the previous record of nine, so if they don't leave the yard tonight, they have a possibility to hit two records in one game!

This isn't a 100% healthy Marlins team, though. The foundation of the Marlins offense, Jazz Chisholm Jr., is on the IL with a stress fracture in his back. Chisholm leads the Marlins in home runs and RBIs, and the loss has shown its impact over the games Chisholm has missed. Jon Berti is also out for the time being, and his .271 batting average is also missed in the lineup.

Braxton Garrett is starting for the Marlins tonight. Garrett is a respectable 1-3 with a 3.7 ERA this season, which is his lowest ERA over his three-year career, but he's no one you go out of your way to bet on. He is still slightly worse on the road with a 3.95 ERA, and his quality starts are inconsistent. Even if Garrett does have a good outing here, I have no confidence with what we have seen from the Marlins recently that they will give him any run support.

Zach Thompson is another guy I wouldn't go out of my way to back. He is 3-6 with a 4.09 this season, although he does have a lower 4.5 ERA at home. However, Thompson just pitched six innings against the struggling Marlins on July 14th, and he gave up just one run in that start, which was on the road. This is Thompson's only career start against the Marlins, but he looked excellent, and it gives me the confidence to back him in a similar spot again.

The Pirates have been surprisingly decent at home, as they are 20-23 in PNC Park, but a much worse 19-31 on the road. The Pirates split the four-game series in Miami, and with the injury trouble and offensive struggles for the Marlins, I think it will take a better pitcher advantage than the one tonight to beat the Pirates, who are just under .500 at home.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Miami Marlins Pick

• Play: Pirates ML @ +115 (Bet $100 to win $115)