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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Toronto Blue Jays August 19th 2025
The Toronto Blue Jays will play against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The game is set for Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 6:40 PM. The Blue Jays are currently leading the AL East with a 73-53 record. They are looking to break a two-game losing streak. The Pirates are in the last place in the NL Central with a 53-73 record. They recently won their last game.
Max Scherzer will start on the mound for the Blue Jays. He has a 3.83 ERA and a 3-2 record. Mitch Keller will pitch for the Pirates. He holds a 4.13 ERA with a 5-11 record. The weather forecast predicts a clear sky for the game. Fans can catch the game on SNET.
Blue Jays vs Pirates Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Venue: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA
- Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
- Betting Odds: Blue Jays Moneyline -144, Pirates Moneyline +122
The Blue Jays Can Win If…
The Toronto Blue Jays are coming off a 5-2 loss against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Kevin Gausman pitched five innings, allowing two earned runs and striking out four. Despite the loss, the Blue Jays’ offense showed some potential with six hits, including a double by Addison Barger.
The Blue Jays have strong batting stats this season. They lead the league with a .268 batting average and a .335 on-base percentage. Their ability to get on base and hit for average gives them a solid chance to win.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a key player for the Blue Jays. He has a .298 batting average and 21 home runs this season. With Max Scherzer starting, who has a 3.83 ERA, the Blue Jays have a strong chance to win against the Pirates.
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates are coming off a solid win against the Toronto Blue Jays, 5-2. Paul Skenes pitched well, going six innings and striking out eight batters. Spencer Horwitz contributed with two hits, including a double, helping the team secure the victory.
One reason the Pirates can win is their strong pitching. Mitch Keller will be on the mound with a 4.13 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Their pitching staff holds opponents to a .239 batting average, ranking 8th in the league.
The Pirates also have key hitters like Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen. Reynolds has hit 13 home runs this season, while McCutchen leads the team in RBIs. With their ability to get on base and produce runs, the Pirates have a good chance to win this game.
The Lean
The Blue Jays are favored with a moneyline of -144 against the Pirates’ +122. The Blue Jays have the top-ranked batting average and on-base percentage this season, which gives them an edge. My model projects the Blue Jays to win with a score of 5-3, making them a solid pick to win straight up.
The total for the game is set at 8.0 runs. The Blue Jays have a strong offense, but the Pirates’ pitching ranks well in batting average against. My model predicts a total score of 8 runs, which aligns with the set line. Therefore, the recommendation is to take the under at 8.0 (-103).
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Jays’ Tough Series Start Gets Complicated With Guerrero Injury
The Toronto Blue Jays didn’t just drop the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night — they also lost their All-Star first baseman, dealt with three costly defensive errors, and got caught up in a bench-clearing dustup.
Toronto fell 5-2 at PNC Park after a shaky defensive performance and the sudden departure of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who exited in the fifth inning due to left hamstring tightness. Guerrero appeared to injure himself when he stretched awkwardly for a throw from shortstop Bo Bichette in the third. He’ll undergo an MRI on Tuesday to determine the severity.
Guerrero has been one of the Blue Jays’ top offensive producers, slashing .298 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, and 139 hits in 125 games. His absence could significantly impact the offense as the team continues to lead the American League East despite recent inconsistency.
Scherzer Set to Face Pirates After Dominant August Run
Taking the mound for Toronto in Game 2 is veteran right-hander Max Scherzer (3-2, 3.83 ERA). While his strikeout totals haven’t been elite this month, his results certainly have. In his last three starts, Scherzer is 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA and has pitched six or more innings in four straight outings.
He’s familiar with Pittsburgh, owning a 5-2 record and 2.79 ERA in 14 career appearances (13 starts) against them. In his most recent start, he held the Chicago Cubs to one run over seven innings in a 2-1 win.
Max Scherzer – Last 3 Starts (August 2025)
| Date | Opponent | IP | ER | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 7 | vs Rays | 6.0 | 1 | 6 | Win |
| Aug 13 | @ Yankees | 7.0 | 2 | 4 | Loss |
| Aug 22 | vs Cubs | 7.1 | 1 | 5 | Win |
Scherzer will look to cool down a Pirates lineup that showed some spark in the series opener and avoid any carryover from Monday’s confrontation.
Benches Clear After Heineman, Pham Exchange Words
Tensions boiled over in the bottom of the seventh when Tommy Pham flipped his bat near home plate after drawing a four-pitch walk from Scherzer. Catcher Tyler Heineman took exception, and the two exchanged words, prompting both benches and bullpens to clear.
Though no punches were thrown and play resumed without further incident, the moment added to a chaotic night for Toronto, which also saw manager John Schneider ejected earlier in the game.
Pirates manager Don Kelly downplayed the altercation, calling it a simple miscommunication.
Mitch Keller Looks to Rebound After Rough Outing
The Pirates will counter with right-hander Mitch Keller (5-11, 4.13 ERA), who is coming off one of his worst starts of the season. He gave up six runs on eight hits in just four innings against the Milwaukee Brewers last week.
Before that, Keller had won four straight decisions and appeared to be turning things around. He’ll be looking to recapture that form Tuesday night. His only other career start against Toronto came on June 1, when he tossed six innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts in an 8-1 win.
Mitch Keller – Last 3 Starts
| Date | Opponent | IP | ER | Hits | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5 | vs Marlins | 6.0 | 2 | 5 | Win |
| Aug 14 | @ Cardinals | 7.0 | 1 | 6 | Win |
| Aug 21 | vs Brewers | 4.0 | 6 | 8 | Loss |
Keller will need to keep hitters like George Springer and Bo Bichette in check as Toronto tries to rebound offensively, especially if Guerrero remains out.
Toronto Tries to Regroup as Bullpen Faces Pressure
Monday’s loss dropped the Blue Jays to 6-6 over their last 12 games, while Pittsburgh snapped a two-game losing streak. One bright spot for the Pirates has been their revamped bullpen. New closer Dennis Santana picked up his second save since David Bednar was traded to the Yankees, and his eighth overall this season.
As Toronto prepares for Game 2, the focus remains on Guerrero’s health and getting back to cleaner, more focused baseball. For now, they’ll turn to a future Hall-of-Famer in Scherzer to even the series.
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