Pirates-Diamondbacks Day Game Picks Under 9 Runs

The Pittsburgh Pirates carry a winning record of 20-17 into a daytime matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pittsburgh expected to improve after offseason spending and has delivered with a .247 team batting average and 4.9 runs per game, up from .231 and 3.6 last year. The Pirates have scored 31 percent of last season's total runs in under a quarter of the games.

Mitch Keller starts for Pittsburgh with a 3-1 record, 2.85 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Those numbers stand out for the team's second-best starter. He has two road starts, allowing three earned runs on eight hits over 11 innings. Arizona hitters are 16-for-85 lifetime against him.

The Diamondbacks sit at 17-18 overall and 10-7 at home, matching expectations despite solid hitting after trading two top bats last year. Their pitching has faltered. Zac Gallen, who helped them reach the World Series a few seasons back, starts today. He went 1-2 last season amid trade rumors but stayed put. This year he holds a 1-2 mark, 4.45 ERA and 1.52 WHIP. Gallen shines at home with a 1.23 ERA over 14.2 innings but has just one quality start in three outings. Pittsburgh hitters bat .248 against him in 101 at-bats.

Player props to consider include Nolan Arenado under 0.5 hits at +140 after going 4-for-27 versus Keller. Ryan O'Hearn of the Pirates is 6-for-12 with three extra-base hits against Gallen, making 2+ total bases at +122 worth a look.

The play calls for under 9 runs. Keller remains sharp all season. Gallen performs better at home. The Pirates managed one run across two games against Arizona, while the Diamondbacks scored zero yesterday after nine in the opener.