It’s a rematch of a couple classic World Series some us still remember when the Orioles host the Pirates for the opener of a three-game inter-league series Friday night in Baltimore.

A couple of struggling righties takes their turns here as Kyle Bradish goes for the O’s against Johan Oviedo for Pittsburgh.

How are we playing this game with our free baseball betting pick?

MLB Betting Odds

Friday’s baseball betting market opened Baltimore and Bradish at around -145 over Pittsburgh and Oviedo, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. Early betting action then bumped the Orioles to -155.

Pirates-Orioles Betting Preview

Pittsburgh just dropped two of three games at home to Colorado, losing Wednesday’s series rubber match 4-3. The Pirates then had Thursday off.

Just before that Pittsburgh got swept three games by Toronto and just before that it got swept three games by Tampa Bay. So the Pirates, following that great start to this season, are 0-3 over their last three series and 1-9 over their last 10 games.

Still, at 21-17 overall Pittsburgh clings to a half-game lead over Milwaukee in the NL Central.

Baltimore, meanwhile, just took two of three games at home from the best team in Baseball at the moment, the Rays, winning Wednesday’s series rubber match 2-1. The Orioles then enjoyed Thursday off.

Just before that Baltimore lost two of three games at Atlanta but just before that it took two of three at Kansas City. Going back a bit further the resurgent Orioles are 8-1 over their last nine series and 20-8 over their last 28 games.

At 24-13 overall Baltimore owns the second-best record in the American League.

These teams also met last season; the Orioles took two of three games from the Pirates also at Camden Yards.

Friday's Pitching Match-Up

Bradish is 1/5 on quality starts this season and 0 for his last three. Last Saturday he gave up three runs on five hits and two walks through five innings of a 5-4 Baltimore loss to Atlanta. And over his last three starts he’s allowed 13 runs and 19 hits through only 12 innings.

The Orioles are 3-2 with Bradish this season but that’s a game better than they should be, based on his performances.

This will be Bradish’s first career start against Pittsburgh.

Oviedo is 3/7 on quality starts this year but also 0 for his last three. Last Saturday the Blue Jays got him for seven runs - six earned - and 10 hits through five frames in an 8-2 Pirates loss. And over his last three starts he’s been bombed for 17 ER and 25 hits through just 12 2/3 innings.

Pittsburgh is 3-4 with Oviedo this season and that’s what they should be.

This will be Oviedo’s first career start against Baltimore.

Splits With the Sticks

Pittsburgh is batting .237 against right-handed pitching this season, with a .320 team OBP and a .410 team slugging percentage. The Pirates have also been held to three runs or less each of their last 10 games!

Baltimore is slashing .243/.322/.398 against right-handed pitching.

The Bullpens

The Orioles bullpen owns a 3.12 ERA this season, along with a 1.20 WHIP and a 2.89 K/BB ratio. Numbers like those lead us to rank this unit among the top half-dozen or so bullpens in Baseball at the moment.

The Pirates pen owns a 3.52 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP and a 2.25 K/BB ratio.

MLB Betting Trends

Pittsburgh is 11-8 on the road this season and 14-13 against right-handed starters.

Baltimore is 11-5 at home and 12-8 against right-handed starters.

Pittsburgh is 15-11 as an underdog this season.

Totals Report

The unders are 19-18 in Pirates games this season.

The overs are 20-16 in Orioles games.

The unders are 9-7 at Oriole Park this season.