Pirates vs. Phillies Prediction: Aaron Nola Poised to Keep Phillies’ NL East Hopes Alive

The Philadelphia Phillies have won back-to-back games to keep pace in the NL East behind the Atlanta Braves. 

Philadelphia is three games back of Atlanta, but it will send Aaron Nola to the mound on Thursday against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates. Nola is in the midst of a down year, tallying an 8-8 record and a 4.48 earned run average, but he has a perfect get-right matchup against Pittsburgh’s league-worst offense (3.71 runs per game). 

The Pirates will send Connor Overton to the mound for his second start of his major-league career, and the Phillies are massive -290 favorites to come away with a much-needed win. 

WynnBET is giving the Phillies just +2500 odds to win the National League this season while Atlanta sits at +600. This signals that oddsmakers see the NL East division all but decided despite Philadelphia being only three games back.

Nola and company will try to change that perception and keep themselves in the race in tonight's matchup.

Phillies vs. Pirates Prediction and Pick

While Nola hasn’t been as dominant this season as years past, he has looked better in his last three starts. The Phillies right-hander has three runs or less in his last three starts while tallying 25 strikeouts in just 16 innings. 

The Pirates don’t have much of an offensive attack this season, and the Phillies have been playing inspired baseball as the playoff push goes on. 

Bryce Harper has kept the Phillies alive, and after taking care of the Baltimore Orioles, a matchup with the Pirates gives Philadelphia another great chance to pick up some ground on Atlanta. 

I’ll take the Phillies to win this one, and while WynnBET hasn’t released a strikeout prop for Nola, I’d seriously consider the over on that as well given his recent success.

Can the Phillies make a move for the NL East crown? Get in the action at WynnBET.