Rockies vs. Pirates Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Pittsburgh Bolstered With Chandler's Call-Up

Baseball's top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler is set to make his pro debut for the Pirates.

Mike Spector

Last Updated: August 22, 2025 8:30 AM EDT • 4 minute read

Rockies vs. Pirates Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Friday, Aug. 22 — Pictured: MLB's top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler (57) during spring training for the Pirates as we break down our Rockies vs. Pirates prediction. Photo by Kim Klement Neitzel via Imagn Images.

Major League Baseball’s No. 1 pitching prospect, Bubba Chandler, is being called up by the Pittsburgh Pirates for tonight’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies, and we're breaking down his potential debut with our Rockies vs. Pirates prediction. Chandler will be available to pitch out of the bullpen, but we expect his arrival will make for a successful day for Pittsburgh.

The Pirates are massive -190 moneyline favorites at our top sports betting sites, which is a role they are most used to being in when Paul Skenes toes the rubber. But those steep odds have us getting creative with our Rockies vs. Pirates best bets to return maximum value.

This is the earliest start time of all Friday’s games, with first pitch from PNC Park set for 6:40 p.m. ET (SportsNet-PIT, Rockies.TV).

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✅ Rockies vs. Pirates prediction: Pirates -1.5 (+115 via BetMGM)

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The scouting report on Chandler, MLB.com’s No. 7 prospect is "an elite-level fastball that averaged 96.7 mph and touched 99 in 2024 with impressive vertical break. Command of the pitch has improved and he holds premium velocity deep into starts."

With Chandler backing up Braxton Ashcraft, who has recorded more than 10 outs just once this season, I am backing Pittsburgh’s run line as my Rockies vs. Pirates prediction.

When using Ashcraft as an opener, Pittsburgh has allowed two or fewer runs in each of the last two occasions and five of the previous seven. That should help Pittsburgh cover the 1.5 runs as my Rockies vs. Pirates best bet, especially against a Colorado lineup that ranks 29th in OPS and dead-last in wRC+ in road games.

Pittsburgh has covered the run line in four of its six games when it has the rest advantage over its opponents. And this is a brutal scheduling spot for the Rockies, who made the cross-country trip after finishing their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday.

The implied probability for the Pirates to cover the run line is as high as 49.02% through FanDuel’s +104 odds, so we are getting great value in comparison at BetMGM, where a $10 winning wager would net $11.50 in profits.

📊 Live Rockies vs. Pirates odds: Friday, 6:40 p.m. ET

💰 Best Rockies vs. Pirates player prop

✅ Best Rockies vs. Pirates player prop: Bryan Reynolds Over 0.5 RBIs (+150 via bet365)

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Pittsburgh slugger Reynolds has been red-hot since the All-Star break, and his success against Colorado righty Antonio Senzatela has me backing his RBI odds as my best Rockies vs. Pirates player prop.

Reynolds is 4-for-6 with two RBIs in his career against Senzatela, and the Pirates as a whole rocked the righty for eight earned runs in the first inning in a 17-16 win on Aug. 1.

Reynolds is slashing .305/.354/.500 with 16 RBIs (second on the team) in the second half of the season, and these are great odds for one of the team’s most feared sluggers in a game where it has a team total O/U of 4.5 runs.

At bet365, bettors are getting the best value for this wager, compared to the +135 odds at other top sports betting apps.

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❓MLB betting FAQs

Who is the favorite to win Rockies vs. Pirates?

The Pirates are favored vs. the Rockies at -190 odds, giving Pittsburgh an implied 65.52% win probability, according to our odds converter.

How do betting odds work?

Betting odds represent the probability of a specific outcome and determine how much money you can win on a bet. There are three main formats: American odds, Decimal odds, and Fractional odds. In the U.S., American odds are most common.

What is the run line in baseball?

The run line in baseball is a form of point spread betting unique to MLB. It typically sets a standard spread of 1.5 runs, meaning the favored team must win by at least two runs to cover the run line, while the underdog can lose by one run or win outright to cover.

What does moneyline mean in betting?

The moneyline in betting refers to a wager on which team or player will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. It’s the most straightforward type of sports bet - just pick the winner.

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Written by:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”