New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 8/9/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Mets vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: New York (-128) Pittsburgh (+106)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (57-61) will compete against the New York Mets (51-66) at PNC Park on Sunday. The moneyline on this game has the Mets at -128 and the Pirates are priced at +106. The betting total comes in at 8. The pitchers taking the mound are Sean Manaea and Jared Jones.

The Mets have hit 147 doubles as a unit and have knocked 141 balls out of the park. New York has a slugging % of .387 and have been called out on strikes 996 times, while being walked on 374 occasions. As a unit, the New York Mets are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, which is 23rd in the league. They have tallied 465 runs batted in as well as 925 hits on the year, while their batting average is sitting at .235. They have accounted for 488 runs scored and hold an OBP of .305.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

The Mets have compiled a team earned run average of 4.09 on the year (13th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 1,054 batters. Mets pitchers have relinquished 125 home runs and also 532 total runs (19th in the league). They have walked 412 opposing hitters and their FIP is 3.97 as a squad on the year. New York has conceded 946 base hits (8.2 per 9 innings) in addition to 474 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.56 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.30.

The Mets have dispatched 359 relief pitchers to the mound on the year. The relievers have inherited 150 base runners on the season and 30.0% of those players earned a run for their team. The relief pitchers have a total of 46 holds this season (27th in MLB). Mets bullpen pitchers have come into the game with players on base 109 times in addition to having 120 appearances in high leverage situations. They have earned 20 saves on the campaign and have blown 14 out of their 34 save chances. The Mets relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 58.8% and stepped onto the hill in 80 save situations.

The Mets have transformed 69.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of 9,393 innings, which has them sitting at 23rd in the majors. The New York Mets have amassed 3,131 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 939 assists and 78 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .981 which has them sitting 29th in MLB, and they have turned 72 double plays.

Manaea (82-71 win-loss record in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.04 while he has faced 5,625 hitters in the major leagues. He has given up 1,250 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) with 382 free passes. His earned run average is 4.10 (612 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.216. Manaea has pitched in 1,342 frames and has totaled 1,279 strikeouts thus far in his career.

The Pirates hold a team slugging percentage of .412 and they have an average of 5.02 runs per game (4th in baseball). They have recorded 182 doubles, while taking a walk 427 times as well as notching 592 runs. Pittsburgh has tallied 143 home runs so far this year to go along with 567 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 1,114 occasions (1st in baseball) and are sitting with 1,048 hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have tallied a team on-base percentage of .334 and a team batting average of .257 this season.

The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.326 and have a FIP of 3.93 as a staff so far this year. They are sitting at 20th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 968. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have allowed 570 runs this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.32 (506 earned runs given up). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 9.30 (1,094 strikeouts against 429 walks). They have surrendered 123 dingers and they relinquish 4.87 runs per 9 innings (23rd in baseball).

With 94 save situations, the Pirates have compiled 50 holds and also 20 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on bullpen pitchers to step onto the hill in 43 save opportunities and they have walked away with 23 saves. Pittsburgh bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 32.4% of 142 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 108 times in high leverage situations and also on 102 occasions with base runners. They rank 27th in MLB with a save rate of 53.5%, and they have dispatched 374 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond on the year.

In 9,483 innings on the diamond, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 68.6% (27th in the majors). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 93 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .983 (23rd in baseball). The Pirates have recorded 922 assists, 70 errors and have accounted for 3,161 putouts this season.

In his career, Jones has allowed 152 hits and he has 194 K's in 177 innings pitched. He has given up 81 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.168 and having a FIP of 4.1. His K/BB ratio is 3.53 and he has faced 733 hitters so far in his pro baseball career. Jones (8-11 career mark) holds a 4.11 earned run average and has surrendered 7.7 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take New York (-128)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.