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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Houston Astros June 4th 2025
The Houston Astros will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The game is set for 6:40 PM and will be broadcast on SCHN. This night game will be played outdoors, but the weather details are currently unavailable.
Houston holds a season record of 33-27, with a road record of 11-15. Pittsburgh has a 22-39 record this season, with a home record of 13-17. Ryan Gusto will start for the Astros, bringing an ERA of 4.62. Mike Burrows will take the mound for the Pirates, carrying an ERA of 8.64.
Astros vs Pirates Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Houston Astros vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025
- Betting Odds: Astros MoneyLine -140, Pirates MoneyLine +119
The Astros Can Win If…
The Houston Astros are coming off a 3-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lance McCullers Jr. delivered a strong performance, pitching six innings and allowing just two hits. Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker both contributed with home runs, showcasing their power at the plate.
Houston’s pitching staff ranks ninth in ERA at 3.59 and second in strikeouts with 569. They also hold the second spot in batting average against at .220. These stats highlight their ability to keep opposing teams’ offenses in check, giving them a strong chance to win.
The Astros’ lineup features key hitters like Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes. Peña has a .308 batting average, while Paredes leads the team with 12 home runs. With Ryan Gusto on the mound, the Astros will look to capitalize on the Pirates’ starter Mike Burrows, who has an ERA of 8.64.
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates are ready to bounce back after their recent 0-3 loss to the Houston Astros. In that game, Paul Skenes pitched impressively, allowing just three hits and one earned run over eight innings. Despite the loss, the Pirates showed strong pitching, which can be a key factor in their upcoming game.
Offensively, the Pirates have some standout performers who can make a difference. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been consistent with a .310 batting average, leading the team in this category. Andrew McCutchen, with five home runs and 18 RBIs, adds power to the lineup, giving the Pirates a solid chance to score runs.
The Pirates’ pitching staff has been effective, with a team ERA of 3.94, ranking 15th in the league. Their ability to limit opponent batting averages to .237, ranked 11th, is another strength. With Mike Burrows starting, the Pirates will look to capitalize on their pitching depth to secure a win against the Astros.
The Lean
The Astros are favored with a MoneyLine of -140 against the Pirates, who are at +119. The Astros have a strong pitching staff with a 3.59 ERA, ranked 9th, and a batting average against of .220, ranked 2nd. Given these stats, the model projects the Astros to win with a score of 5-3. The recommendation is to pick the Astros to win straight up.
The over/under line is set at 9.0 runs. The Astros’ pitching limits opponents’ scoring, and the Pirates struggle offensively with a .226 batting average, ranked 18th. The model projects a total score of 8 runs. The recommendation is to take the under 9.0 for this game.
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Rookie Right-Handers Clash as Astros Face Pirates in Mid-Series Matchup
The Houston Astros have been battling through one of the most injury-depleted rotations in the league—and still, they find themselves atop the AL West. A big part of that resilience comes from rookies like Ryan Gusto stepping into pressure-packed roles earlier than expected.
Gusto (3-2, 4.62 ERA), who began the season bouncing between the bullpen and the rotation, is being leaned on heavily as Houston scrambles to replace injured starters including Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, and Ronel Blanco—who is out for the season.
As a reliever, Gusto has shined, posting a microscopic 0.93 ERA. But as a starter, things haven’t been as smooth: 5.83 ERA over seven starts. He’s had trouble going deep into games, failing to reach the fifth inning since April 23.
In his most recent outing against the Rays, Gusto lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and three walks. Still, manager Joe Espada believes in his young arm. “He’s strong, he’s physical, and he’s shown flashes both in the pen and starting. We’re working to get him comfortable going deeper,” Espada said.
Wednesday’s game will mark Gusto’s first career appearance against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have struggled to generate offense.
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Pirates Pin Hopes on Burrows Despite Tough Start to MLB Career
On the flip side, the Pirates will roll out another rookie, Mike Burrows (0-1, 8.64 ERA), who’s also trying to find his footing in the majors. The 24-year-old righty is making just his third career start after being called up from the minors on May 22—a move that puzzled some fans who expected top prospect Bubba Chandler to get the nod.
So far, Burrows has had a rocky introduction. He’s allowed four earned runs in each of his first two starts and couldn’t make it past the fourth inning against the Diamondbacks last week. In that game, he was tagged for five runs (four earned), walked two, and gave up a home run.
In his debut against Milwaukee, Burrows pitched five innings but was chased early by two early homers and a four-run first two innings that the Brewers turned into an 8-5 win.
Burrows knows what he has to do: “Getting ahead early, strike one—just being more efficient. That’s the key,” he said. The Pirates desperately need length from their young right-hander, especially after dropping Tuesday night’s game 3-0 despite eight stellar innings from Paul Skenes.
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Offense Needed as Pirates Try to Avoid Another Shutout
Scoring continues to be a major issue in Pittsburgh. Tuesday marked their 10th shutout in just 61 games, and it’s not for lack of talent on the mound. Skenes threw a gem—eight innings, one run—and still ended up with an “L.”
Lack of run support is becoming a theme for Pirates pitchers. The bats just haven’t been there consistently, and unless that changes, even solid outings like Skenes’ won’t lead to wins.
The Astros, by contrast, have found ways to manufacture offense even while juggling their lineup due to pitching injuries. If Gusto can go five clean innings, Houston’s bullpen has the depth to finish the job.
