Miami Marlins vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 3/27/25, 12:19 PM  by Carlos Zabala | Modified on 2/16/26 at 4:30 PM in MLB Picks

Bookmakers are already predicting a low-scoring game between the Pirates and Marlins on Thursday's Opening Day. The game, which will take place at Loan Depot Park, is likely to feature a pitching duel between last season's sensational rookie, Paul Skenes, for the Pirates, and 2022 Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, who has recovered from Tommy John surgery.

In the betting circles, ahead of Wheeler, Snell, and Sale, Skenes is the favorite to win the Cy Young Award this season, with odds around +300.

It appears that the Marlins, who in the past have been quite capable of finding and developing quality starting pitchers and relievers, will endure their offensive woes for another year with a non-threatening lineup that also includes their main players, Jesus Sanchez and Connor Norby, who will be out due to injury for Opening Day.

For a team that lost 100 games last season, facing Skenes as the starter doesn't seem ideal. Skenes finished last season with an impressive 11-3 record and a 1.96 ERA. Still, the Marlins will be relieved that the Pirates closed spring training on a low note, losing their last five games and scoring two or fewer runs in all of them.