MLB Baseball
2026-07-01 - Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Wednesday 1st July 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)
Preview
The opening two games of this series have been split with one win apiece and the Philadelphia Phillies (48-38) will be looking to back up the victory on Tuesday that has moved them to within 2.5 games of the National League East leading Atlanta Braves. The loss for the Pittsburgh Pirates (43-43) means they are once again back at 0.500 for the season, but they are turning to one of the better pitchers in the Major Leagues in what should be a battle on the mound.
The Pirates hand the ball to Paul Skenes who has a 6-7 record, but a 3.10 ERA in his seventeen starts in 2026, which is the third year in the Major League.
He has not quite reached the level of the first two seasons in the Big Leagues, but Paul Skenes is still one of the best arms in the business. And at some stage, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a big decision to make about the next star pitcher that has come through the system.
Paul Skenes has not been quite at his consistent best this season and he did allow four runs in 5 Innings thrown against the Cincinnati Reds last time out. He did not pick up the decision loss in that one, but the Pirates have lost the last eight games that have been started by Paul Skenes and the pitcher has a 0-5 record and 4.40 ERA in that run.
It is a streak that was started by giving up five runs in 5 Innings thrown against the Philadelphia Phillies and Paul Skenes suffered the decision loss in that start in May.
The Phillies will counter with the same pitcher that began that day and Zack Wheeler has an 8-1 record and 2.03 ERA in twelve starts made in 2026 as he continues to operate as a key cog in the Philadelphia starting rotation.
Zack Wheeler looks on course to produce an ERA below 3.00 for the fifth time in six regular seasons and that while starting at least twenty-four games. He is halfway to that number of starts again, and has bounced back from dropping a decision in his last start in May by putting together a very strong June.
Five starts were made in that month and Zack Wheeler finished with a 4-0 record and 1.71 ERA, while he threw 7 Innings without giving up a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the start made against them earlier this season.
Prediction
The layers are always going to have a lot of respect for Paul Skenes and what he can produce on the mound, but Zack Wheeler is capable of matching him when both are their best.
In the last several weeks, Wheeler has been more likely to provide that consistent, high level that is expected from him and that can help the Philadelphia Phillies pick up another win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pick :
Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 Pittsburgh Pirates
