In a tightly contested matchup, the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Miami Marlins 3-2 on Tuesday night in the second game of their series. Home runs from Ke'Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz sparked a late rally, bringing the Pirates within one run of the Marlins. With two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, the Pirates were unable to convert their chances, ultimately sealing their defeat.

The Pirates, now 27-41, are looking to rebound in the series finale against the Marlins, who hold a slightly better record at 25-40. Pittsburgh's offensive performances have shown promise, underscored by their young talents, but consistency remains a challenge as they aim for a series win.

The Miami Marlins (25-40) are facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (27-41) on June 11, 2025, at PNC Park. This game follows Miami's 3-2 victory over the Pirates, ending Pittsburgh's four-game winning streak. The Marlins have struggled recently, with a 2-7 record over their last nine games. Starting for Miami is Cal Quantrill (3-6, 5.63 ERA), who is looking to bounce back after allowing two earned runs in five innings during his last start. He'll be up against Bailey Falter of the Pirates (4-3, 3.49 ERA), who is coming off a rough outing where he allowed four earned runs in just 3.2 innings.

The odds favor the Pirates with a moneyline of -152 compared to the Marlins at +126. The spread is set at Pirates -1.5, with a total set at 8.0 runs. Expert Vaughn Dalzell has highlighted Oneil Cruz as a player to watch, given his leading position in stolen bases across MLB. Predictions from NBC Sports suggest a play on the Pirates to win on the moneyline and the over on the total runs for the game.

Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates continues to showcase his immense potential, recently hitting a record-breaking 432-foot home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph, the hardest in the MLB Statcast era. He leads the league in several key metrics including average exit velocity (97.5 mph) and barrel rate (24.6%). Despite a recent slump, Cruz's odds to hit a home run against the Marlins are ranked among the best at +440, making him a valuable pick. Data analyst Jacob Fetner suggests that Cruz is due for a homer, especially against struggling pitcher Sandy Alcantara.

In addition to Cruz, Brandon Lowe of the Tampa Bay Rays is making waves with his consistent power, having hit at least 20 home runs for the last three full seasons. His prowess at Fenway Park, where he has a .382 batting average with six home runs in 22 games, has him listed at +420 for a home run against the Red Sox. Meanwhile, Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers is also drawing attention with his rookie season showing, eyeing a matchup against a pitcher prone to allowing home runs, making him another solid betting option.

On June 4, 2025, top MLB player prop bets spotlight hitters with potential for home runs, aiming to capitalize on favorable matchups and current form. Juan Soto, Oneil Cruz, Cody Bellinger, Lawrence Butler, Wyatt Langford, and Willy Adames are all in play. Soto is on fire with three homers in four games, paired against Dodgers' struggling righty Tony Gonsolin. Cruz boasts elite hitting metrics, while Bellinger thrives at home against Luis Ortiz. Butler's recent surge and Langford's power metrics suggest value in their respective bets. Adames, despite a rough season, potentially finds redemption against Nick Pivetta.

On June 1, 2025, MLB player prop bets present a promising opportunity for sports bettors with seven recommended home run props. With favorable weather conditions across the nation, high odds are targeted for various players positioned to hit long balls. Key hitters include Mike Tauchman, Jackson Holliday, Carlos Santana, George Springer, Francisco Lindor, Elly De La Cruz, and Oneil Cruz. Each player has an intriguing matchup today: for instance, Tauchman is on a hot streak with a .371 average and slugging .625 against right-handed pitchers, while Holliday shows promise after recently homering and improving his contact rate.

Veteran hitters like Santana also provide solid value with a .597 slugging percentage against righties. Springer is riding momentum after a multi-homer game, and Lindor faces a pitcher with a high ERA, making his prop enticing. De La Cruz and Cruz both showcase impressive power statistics against right-handed pitchers. Each prop presents a unique risk/reward scenario, emphasizing the need for careful consideration in betting strategies.