The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Toronto Blue Jays on August 20, 2025. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 12:35 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on SportsNet PT.
The Pirates and Blue Jays have a rubber match! The Pirates snagged game one before the Blue Jays evened things in game two. Toronto is a -150 ML favorite in the finale.
Find my MLB betting preview and Blue Jays vs Pirates prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, betting trends, injury reports and more.
My Blue Jays vs Pirates Prediction
- Blue Jays vs Pirates pick: Pirates F5 ML
My Blue Jays vs Pirates best bet is Pirates F5 ML. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Blue Jays vs Pirates Odds
| Blue Jays Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +120 | 8 -120o / 100u | -150 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -145 | 8 -120o / 100u | +125 |
Blue Jays vs Pirates Projected Starting Pitchers
| RHP Chris Bassitt (TOR) | Stat | RHP Johan Oviedo (PIT) |
|---|---|---|
| 11-6 | W-L | 0-0 |
| 1.6 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 0.0 |
| 4.22/4.23 | ERA /xERA | 18.00/5.48 |
| 4.29/3.87 | FIP / xFIP | 5.12/6.12 |
| 1.33 | WHIP | 5.00 |
| 3.4 | K-BB% | 1.0 |
| 45.4% | GB% | 100% |
| 97 | Stuff+ | 101 |
| 103 | Location+ | 72 |
Sean Paul’s Blue Jays vs Pirates Preview
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview: Is Ashcraft Legit?
The Pirates are searching for young arms to complement Paul Skenes in the future. So, that's why they're seeing what younger arms such as Johan Oviedo and Braxton Ashcraft has as a starter.
Initially this would be Ashcraft's start day, and the Pirates can't expect more than four or five innings from Oviedo, so maybe Ashcraft gets a look, too.
Oviedo looked a bit rusty, while sprinkling in a bit of dominance in his one MLB outing this year. He allowed five baserunners, led by three walks and two scored, but he also punched out three hitters. Plus, he dominated in his three Triple-A outings, sporting a 2.63 ERA in 13 2/3 innings. He also punched out 17 hitters, which you can't expect against Toronto, but he has strikeout stuff in his back pocket.
Offensively, the Pirates are amid one of their better runs of the year. That’s not bad, considering how bad their offense is, but they have the 22nd-best wRC+ in MLB this month. And for this matchup, the Pirates can rely on some left-handed mashers, like Spencer Horowitz and Jack Suwinski, who both have played well in August.
Horowitz and Suwinski are two of six Pittsburgh batters with a wRC+ above 100 in August. Leading the charge is Bryan Reynolds with a pristine 146 wRC+. That’s huge news because Reynolds is truly the engine for the Pirates' offense.
The Pirates' offense is also taking what pitchers give them. They have a 9.8% walk rate in August, which is good for sixth in MLB.
I just don't think Pittsburgh's terrible bullpen can hold a lead for four or five innings if Ashcraft goes five or six. And that's the absolute max Ashcraft can go.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview: A Glaring Hole
Chris Bassitt will attempt to win the Blue Jays this series. The veteran hurler holds a solid 4.22 ERA with a 4.23 xERA and 4.29 FIP. That just shows that the ebbs and flows in Bassitt's game will come and go. He's not been lucky, nor unlucky.
He's just a very solid mid-to-back-end of a rotation arm. Of late, walks have marred Bassitt's last seven outings, walking 10 batters in 32 2/3 innings. He'll need to shore up his command against the patient Pirates. Otherwise, it could lead to tons of traffic.
Since the trade deadline, the Pirates' bullpen has a league-worst 7.00 ERA in 70 innings. I want to back the Ashcraft portion of the contest, not the bullpen portion, which means it's time for a first five.
The Blue Jays appeared to dodge a serious injury bullet, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s hamstring injury suffered on Monday, seems minor. Toronto's star left Monday's game after stretching for a ball at first base and didn't play on Tuesday, but neither Guerrero nor manager John Schneider seemed to think it's a long-term issue. That said, I'm downgrading the Blue Jays' offense pretty severely if Vlad Jr. is out.
In August, the Blue Jays rank second in MLB with a 136 wRC+, only behind the Milwaukee Brewers. I don't think people consider the Blue Jays a very powerful squad, but they have 31 homers, which is second this month. Pairing a sudden surge in power with their elite bat-to-ball skills is very dangerous.
But do you know who leads the Blue Jays in homers this month? It's Vlad Jr. He has six homers with a 1.083 OPS in 67 PA's. He's been incredible for the Jays, and his not being in the lineup will be very noticeable.
Blue Jays vs Pirates Prediction, Betting Analysis
I want no part of this Pirates bullpen, which leads has the league's worst ERA since August 1st. Dealing away David Bednar and Caleb Ferguson just devastated the Pirates bullpen depth.
I like how this matchup lines up for Pittsburgh in the early stages. If Oviedo can toss a strong four or five innings, I like the Pirates patient approach to get a couple of runs on Bassitt early and carry a lead into the sixth inning.
Go with the first five and rely on Oviedo.
Pick: Pirates F5 ML (+130, Fanatics)
Moneyline
I want the Pirates' first five. I'm avoiding the full game number.
Run Line (Spread)
No play.
Over/Under
No play.
Blue Jays vs Pirates Betting Trends
