NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Prediction 
Odds 
Last Recap 
Game Picks 
Top Handicapper 
Pittsburgh Pirates vs San Francisco Giants August 4th 2025
The San Francisco Giants take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Giants have a balanced record of 56-56 and are third in the NL West. They have won one game in a row but have struggled recently, going 3-7 in their last ten games.
The Pirates hold a 48-64 record and sit fifth in the NL Central. They have been performing better lately, with a 7-3 record in their last ten games. The game is set for Monday, August 4, 2025, at 6:40 PM, with warm weather and broken clouds expected.
Giants vs Pirates Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Monday, August 4, 2025 at 6:40 PM
- Betting Odds: Giants Moneyline -131, Pirates Moneyline +111, Giants Runline -1.5 (+125), Pirates Runline +1.5 (-151), Total Over 8.5 (-113), Total Under 8.5 (-108)
The Giants Can Win If…
The San Francisco Giants head into their next game with confidence after a big win against the New York Mets. They scored 12-4, with Rafael Devers leading the way. Devers had a standout performance with 3 hits, 4 RBIs, and a home run. Jung Hoo Lee also contributed, going 4 for 4 with a double.
The Giants have solid stats that can help them win. Their pitching staff ranks 6th in ERA at 3.70 and 1st in home runs given up with just 97. They also rank 4th in quality starts, showing they have dependable starters who can keep games close.
Rafael Devers is a key player to watch with his 20 home runs and 77 RBIs. Willy Adames adds power with 17 home runs, while Heliot Ramos has a .268 average and 14 home runs. With these players leading the lineup, the Giants have the potential to score runs and win the game.
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates head into their next game following a strong 9-5 win against the Colorado Rockies. Spencer Horwitz was the standout, driving in six runs with two home runs. Nick Gonzales also contributed with four hits, showing the team’s offensive depth.
The Pirates have shown they can score runs with their power hitting. They hit three home runs in their last game and have a total of 80 home runs this season. Their ability to hit extra-base hits, evident in their recent games, gives them a solid chance to win.
On the mound, Johan Oviedo will start for the Pirates. While his stats are not available, the Pirates’ pitching staff has a respectable ERA of 3.85, ranking 11th in the league. With their strong batting and solid pitching, the Pirates have the tools to secure another win.
The Lean
The Giants are favored with a moneyline of -131, while the Pirates sit at +111. Given the Giants’ strong pitching, ranked 6th in ERA, they have an edge. My model projects a Giants win with a score of 5-3. Back the Giants to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 8.5 runs, with the over at -113 and the under at -108. Both teams have struggled offensively, with batting averages ranked 14th and 17th. My model predicts a total of 8 runs. Consider taking the under in this game.
No-Hit Alerts & Milestone Watch
Sign Up Free
A Tale of Two Comebacks: Johan Oviedo Returns to Face Resurgent Justin Verlander
Monday night’s series opener in Pittsburgh is a game defined by perseverance, a story of two starting pitchers who have traveled long and difficult roads to return to a Major League mound. For the host Pittsburgh Pirates, it is a night of celebration as they welcome back right-hander Johan Oviedo for the first time in nearly two years. His emotional comeback will be tested immediately as he faces the visiting San Francisco Giants and their legendary ace, Justin Verlander, who is in the midst of his own remarkable resurgence after a disastrous first half of the season.
The Long Road Back for Johan Oviedo
The last time Johan Oviedo pitched in a major league game, the baseball world looked very different. It was September of 2023, and Oviedo was capping a season where he had established himself as a durable workhorse for the Pirates, making 32 starts and throwing over 177 innings. That December, however, his career was put on hold as he underwent Tommy John surgery, beginning the grueling and often lonely rehabilitation process that kept him off the field for the entire 2024 season. After a successful series of five rehab starts in the minor leagues this summer, the 27-year-old is finally ready to return.
“I definitely feel like I missed it, because I’ve been out of the game for such a long time,” Oviedo said recently. “There’s nothing that compares to actually being on the playing field.” His return is a massive emotional boost for the Pirates and a testament to his hard work and dedication.
The table below shows a look at Oviedo’s last full season compared to Verlander’s current challenging campaign.
| Pitcher | Year | W-L | ERA | IP | Strikeouts |
| Johan Oviedo | 2023 | 9-14 | 4.31 | 177.2 | 158 |
| Justin Verlander | 2025 | 1-8 | 4.53 | 77.1 | 75 |
Verlander’s Revival
While Oviedo’s comeback has been about physical health, Justin Verlander’s has been about reclaiming his legendary form. The 42-year-old future Hall of Famer endured a shocking and humbling first half of the season, going winless in his first 15 starts with an 0-8 record. Many wondered if his storied career was finally coming to an end. But in his last two starts, the three-time Cy Young winner has looked like his old self. He finally recorded his first victory of the season on July 23 against the Braves and followed it up with another strong outing against these same Pirates last week, allowing just one run over five innings. The velocity on his fastball is back, his breaking balls are sharper, and his confidence has returned. He is no longer the struggling pitcher from the first half; he is once again one of the most formidable arms in the game. How a veteran ace can suddenly rediscover his form is a key topic in our expert betting guide.
The Streaky Pirates
The Pirates are coming home after a wild road trip that perfectly encapsulated their season. After a dominant stretch where they won eight of nine games, including a three-game sweep of these same Giants in San Francisco, they suffered two heartbreaking losses in Colorado, blowing a nine-run lead in one game and a four-run lead in the next. They managed to salvage the trip with a 9-5 victory on Sunday, a game in which first baseman Spencer Horwitz had a career day with his first multi-homer game and six RBIs. “We’ve been playing good ball on this road trip,” Horwitz said. “To finish it on a win is definitely rewarding, so we’re going to keep it rolling at home.”
A Look at the Numbers
This series pits two teams with very different overall records, but who have played each other very tightly. The full history and box scores of their previous matchups can be found on our MLB game results page.
| Team | Record | Division Standing | Runs Per Game | Team ERA |
| San Francisco Giants | 56-55 | 3rd in NL West | 4.4 | 4.10 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 50-63 | 5th in NL Central | 4.2 | 4.35 |
The pitching matchup and the recent performance of both clubs make this an intriguing contest. The scores and odds for this game will be tight. For more in-depth analysis of this and other games, you can view all of our MLB previews. To see who our experts are backing in this emotional showdown, check out our daily MLB picks. To get access to even more premium content and betting tools, you can register for an account today.
