The Houston Astros host the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 2, 2026. First pitch from Daikin Park is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on SCHN.
The Pirates are favored by -115 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Astros are -105 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 9 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Pirates vs Astros prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Pirates vs Astros Prediction
- Pirates vs Astros Pick: Oneil Cruz 1+ Home Runs (+460, DraftKings)
My Pirates vs Astros best bet is Oneil Cruz to hit at least one home run. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Pirates vs Astros Odds
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -180 | 9 -105o / -115u | -105 |
| Astros Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 +154 | 9 -105o / -115u | -115 |
- Pirates vs Astros moneyline: Pirates -105, Astros -115
- Pirates vs Astros over/under: 9 (-105o / -115u)
- Pirates vs Astros spread: Pirates -1.5 (+154), Astros +1.5 (-180)
Pirates vs Astros Probable Pitchers
| RHP Bubba Chandler (PIT) | Stat | RHP Mike Burrows (HOU) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-6 | W-L | 3-6 |
| 0.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.1 |
| 4.85/ 4.61 | ERA / xERA | 5.40/4.06 |
| 4.97/5.08 | FIP / xFIP | 5.18/4.38 |
| 6.8% | K-BB% | 12.0% |
| 34.0% | GB% | 37.8% |
| .257 | BABIP | .315 |
| 105 | Stuff+ | 94 |
| 102 | Location+ | 98 |
Pirates vs Astros MLB Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates (32-28) head to Houston to kick off a highly anticipated three-game series against the Houston Astros (27-34) at Daikin Park. This series opener presents a fascinating narrative backdrop, as the Pirates run into a very familiar face on the mound.
The Pirates enter June above .500 and firmly in the NL Central hunt, sitting just 5.5 games back of the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. Led by a balanced mix of young pitching and explosive bats, Pittsburgh's offense has shown flash and power. Bryan Reynolds continues to brilliantly set the table with a spectacular .403 on-base percentage, while veteran Brandon Lowe (.529 SLG) and dynamic shortstop Oneil Cruz provide the heavy lifting.
Taking the mound for Pittsburgh is rookie right-hander Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.85 ERA). While his traditional win-loss record leaves a lot to be desired, Chandler has flashed front-line stuff, racking up 52 strikeouts. He’ll look to keep a potent but underperforming Astros lineup at bay.
It has been a rocky 2026 campaign for the Astros. At 27-34, Joe Espada's club is searching for momentum to climb back into the AL West race. While superstar Yordan Alvarez (.301 AVG, .634 SLG) and first baseman Christian Walker (16 HRs) are doing their usual damage, the depth of the roster has lacked its typical punch.
The bigger story tonight, however, is Houston's starting pitcher: right-hander Mike Burrows (3-6, 5.40 ERA). This marks the first time Burrows will face his former squad since being shipped away by Pittsburgh in a three-team blockbuster trade last December. To say Burrows has struggled in Houston would be an understatement; he currently yields a 1.45 WHIP and a .283 batting average allowed. His secondary stuff—specifically a dominant changeup that carried a +9 run value last season—has completely flattened out, dropping to a 0 run value this year with a plummeting whiff rate.
Pirates vs Astros Pick, Betting Analysis
When looking at the player prop market for this matchup, all signs point directly toward Pittsburgh’s powerhouse shortstop, Oneil Cruz, leaving the yard.
This spot is great, and these odds are far too high. Mike Burrows is a big plus matchup for lefty power (career 1.63 HR/9), and this ballpark is an upgrade for Cruz.
Cruz hammers the ball, and I have the true odds here around +400, making this a great bet.
Pick: Oneil Cruz 1+ Home Runs (+460, DraftKings)
