Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/5/2022

Time: 1:35 p.m. ET

Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to watch: Bally Sports Arizona, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

DraftKings: Diamondbacks -140, Pirates +120

BetMGM: NL

Caesars: Diamondbacks -145, Pirates +125

Diamondbacks: 26-28

Pirates: 23-28

What do you get when you have two teams combine for nine hits and it ends in a walk-off home run? A complete cluster of a game that no one would ever want to watch, or something like that.

But you can't say that this series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Pittsburgh Pirates hasn't been entertaining. But if you thought that the Diamondbacks were going to coast to a 1-0 win in this battle of pitching duels, clearly you haven't watched these two teams the past few years.

Because anything can happen with the right debauchery, and sometimes that includes the Diamondbacks nearly winning a game with just four hits to the ledger. But it is Jack Suwinski who is the hero for Pittsburgh on this day, hitting a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth off Mark Melancon, which deserves an award in of itself.

The D-backs aren't likely going to get a performance like they got from Zach Davis on Friday, going 7.2 scoreless innings and striking out six. Arizona has gotten great performances from the pitching rotation all year long, but as a team trying to get to relevancy, those performances need to turn to wins.

But what we also continue to learn is that the Diamondbacks only get this kind of offense rolling with the long ball. If they're not hitting homers, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to produce offensively. And I don't know about you, but if I'm a team trying to learn how to win, I'd like to put the ball in play first.

And that's the kind of lesson the Pirates are learning, as well, but at least for them, the lesson they showed the D-Backs was to take advantage of these types of situations. Roansy Contreras pitched a strong 5.2 innings while striking out eight, and the Pittsburgh bullpen did its job to keep the Pirates in it long enough for Bryan Reynolds to get a leadoff single, followed by Suwinski's homer.

If these teams had a combined 10 wins, we would be laughing. But these are two try-hard teams. And for that, you have to respect that.

I find it hard to believe that the Diamondbacks would ruin a second straight performance from a Zac. Only this time it's the better Zac in Gallen, who is 4-0 with a 2.32 ERA to this point. And I would venture to guess that the Pirates, sending Zach Thompson to the mound, will struggle a bit in this one. Over sounds good with Arizona getting the win. D-backs win 6-2

Diamondbacks are 4-25 in June over the past three years.

Diamondbacks are 1-7 on Sunday this season.

Pirates are 9-7 against NL West opponents this season.

Pirates are 3-8 as a home dog of +125 or more this season.

Diamondbacks:
Daulton Varsho (L) C
Josh Rojas (L) 3B
Ketel Marte (S) 2B
Christian Walker (R) 1B
David Peralta (L) LF
Pavin Smith (L) DH
Jake McCarthy (L) RF
Alek Thomas (L) CF
Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS
SP - Zac Gallen

Pirates:
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Daniel Vogelbach (L) DH
Michael Chavis (R) 1B
Rodolfo Castro (S) 2B
Jack Suwinski (L) RF
Diego Castillo (R) SS
Tucupita Marcano (L) LF
Tyler Heineman (S) C
SP - Zach Thompson

Batting average: Ketel Marte -- .263

Home runs: Christian Walker -- 14

RBI: Christian Walker -- 26

Wins: Merrill Kelly -- 4

ERA: Madison Bumgarner -- 3.31

Batting average: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- .295

Home runs: Bryan Reynolds -- 8

RBI: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- 19

Wins: Dillon Peters -- 4

ERA: Jose Quintana -- 2.32