Pittsburgh Pirates (63-69) vs. San Diego Padres (71-60) August 24, 2026 9:40 pm EDT The Line: San Diego Padres -102 / Pittsburgh Pirates -105; Over/Under: 7.5 (Get latest betting odds)
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres meet Monday in MLB action from Petco Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Diego Padres prediction.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will send out Braxton Ashcraft for the start here and Ashcraft is 13-5 with a 3.68 ERA and 159 strikeouts this season. Robbie Ray will start for the Padres and is 11-7 with a 3.20 ERA and 117 strikeouts this season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to bounce back from a 4-0 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers last time out to sit at 63-69 this season. After this series, the Pirates will head on the road for a series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Oneil Cruz has 70 hits including 10 doubles, 16 home runs and 51 RBIs while Ryan O’Hearn has 97 hits with 15 doubles, 17 home runs and 69 RBIs this season. Nick Gonzales has 142 hits with 22 doubles and 55 RBIs while Brandon Lowe has 123 hits with 26 doubles, 27 home runs and 80 RBIs and Bryan Reynolds has 127 hits with 31 doubles, 2 triples, 15 home runs and 66 RBIs as well this season.
The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to add on to their 8-1 win over Minnesota last time out to sit at 71-60 this season. After this series, the Padres will head on the road for a series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Jackson Merrill has 119 hits with 20 doubles, 21 home runs and 66 RBIs while Gavin Sheets has 74 hits with 15 doubles, 16 home runs and 46 RBIs as well on the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 146 hits with 27 doubles, 17 home runs and 67 RBIs and Xander Bogaerts has 93 hits with 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 47 RBIs. Manny Machado also has 103 hits with 20 doubles, 24 home runs and 72 RBIs as well on the year.
I’m on the Padres here. Ashcraft’s pitched well in his last couple of starts, but I’m still not 100% sold that he’s all the way back from his struggles over the last month prior. San Diego has hit righties well all season and is playing the better baseball right now. Pittsburgh’s been up and down against left-handed pitching and I look for San Diego to take care of business here. Give me the Padres.