Nationals-Pirates Odds Preview

The fans at PNC Park will be treated to a game between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates when they take their seats on Saturday. Righthander Craig Stammen will take the mound for the Nationals to start this game. Stammen is 3-5 this season with a 4.46 ERA. It'll be Virgil Vasquez toeing the rubber for the Pirates in this contest. Righthander Vasquez is 1-5 with a 6.21 ERA so far this season. Oddsmakers currently have the Nationals listed as 120-moneyline favorites versus the Pirates, while the game's total has not yet been posted. The Pirates jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 5-4 victory over the Nationals in Friday's opener, as +105 underdogs. That game's nine runs made it OVER the posted over/under (8.5). Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates. Ross Ohlendorf allowed just two runs over 6 1-3 innings in earning his ninth win. Ryan Zimmerman homered in a losing effort for the Nationals, who had been -115 favorites. John Lannan gave up nine hits and five runs over seven innings. Current streak: Washington has lost 3 straight games. Team records: Washington: 32-71 SU Pittsburgh: 44-58 SU Washington most recently: When playing on Saturday are 7-3 Before playing Pittsburgh are 2-8 After playing Pittsburgh are 4-6 After a loss are 2-8 Pittsburgh most recently: When playing on Saturday are 4-6 Before playing Washington are 7-3 After playing Washington are 5-5 After a win are 2-8 A few trends to consider: The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games on the road The total has gone OVER in 5 of Washington's last 5 games The total has gone OVER in 10 of Washington's last 13 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh The total has gone OVER in 4 of Washington's last 6 games when playing Pittsburgh Pittsburgh is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing Washington The total has gone OVER in 10 of Pittsburgh's last 13 games when playing at home against Washington The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Pittsburgh's last 15 games at home Pittsburgh is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games at home Next up: Pittsburgh home to Washington, Sunday, August 2