Pirates Poised to Sweep Wounded Mets in Sunday Finale

The Pirates just boat-raced the Mets 9-0 on Saturday, and Sunday's setup suggests more of the same. New York limps into PNC Park with a lineup held together by duct tape and prayer—Juan Soto, Mark Vientos, and half the regular roster are on the IL, leaving a patchwork crew hitting a collective .234. Sure, they've been solid on the road at 4-1, averaging 6.2 runs per game, but that was before the injury plague hit full force.

Pittsburgh counters with Jared Jones, who brings a meaningful edge over Sean Manaea. Jones posts a 4.02 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine, while Manaea's 4.33 ERA and bloated 1.38 WHIP suggest he's ripe for another beating. The Pirates' lineup—featuring Horwitz, Reynolds, Gonzales, and Mangum all hitting north of .270—should have another field day against a struggling Manaea, especially after yesterday's demolition built confidence.

DarkHorse likes the Pirates at -137 with moderate confidence (2/5), citing the starting pitching gap and the Mets' offensive decimation. It's not a screaming value, but after watching New York get blanked last night, backing Pittsburgh to complete the sweep feels like the smart Sunday play. The Bucs have the horses; the Mets are running on fumes.