The Pittsburgh Pirates had the third-worst record in baseball last season, finishing 61-101. Only the Rangers, Diamondbacks and Orioles — Arizona and Baltimore tied for dead last — were worse. It was another disappointing season for the franchise as they finished last in their division for the third year in a row.
The Pirates head into the 2022 season with a lineup that could score some runs, but a pitching staff that could be one of the worst in the league.
Pirates Top Betting Odds 2022
Pittsburgh Pirates MLB betting odds are current as of March 24, 2022, at BetRivers Sportsbook.
- World Series Winners (+25000)
- Win National League pennant (+6600)
- Win National League Central title (+3300)
- 2022 Win Total Over/Under: 62.5 (-134)
Pittsburgh faces the longest odds for winning the World Series (tied with the Baltimore Orioles at +25000), the second-longest odds to win the National League pennant, and the worst odds to win the NL Central.
They haven’t won their division since 1992, haven’t finished second since 2015, and it is unlikely they will come close to doing either of those things in 2022.
Sportsbook Play of the Day
Before making your 2022 MLB futures bets, you should know that Caesars Sportsbook is among the industry’s best, offering tons of promotions. Get up to $1,100 in first bet insurance when you use our promo code .
Read Chris Wassel’s Caesars Sportsbook review for more insight and get your welcome bonus below, or continue reading this analysis for our MLB futures tipster picks.
Pirates Futures Bets 2022
Pirates: UNDER 62.5 Wins (-134) at BetRivers Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Pittsburgh won only 61 games in 2021 but has not taken any steps to significantly improve.
Among their starting position players, only Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds had better than a .250 batting average last season, and only of the starting pitchers listed on the Pirates’ current depth chart had an ERA under 5.00 in 2021 (Dillon Peters had a 3.71 ERA).
The Pirates have a few players with star potential, but when the tradeline comes around and they are once again a sub-.500 team, players like Reynolds, Kevin Newman, Chris Stratton, David Bednar, and JT Brubaker are likely to find themselves on new teams.
These kinds of moves may benefit Pittsburgh in the future, but they will make the team even worse in the second half of the season. Take the Under on 62.5 wins in our MLB bet of the day.
Pirates: Win 2022 World Series (+25000) at BetRivers Sportsbook
WAGER: 0.25 Units
The Pirates were one of the worst teams in baseball last season and did not get markedly better in 2022, hence the worst odds to win the World Series. Despite the long odds and a roster that does not feature many stars, a small bet on the Pirates could pay off in a massive way.
This bet is a long shot for a reason, so don’t go into the season banking on it to hit. It’s an unlikely scenario, so only place a small bet here.
Pirates Player Prop Bets 2022
Bryan Reynolds: Lead MLB in Hits (+5000) at BetRivers Sportsbook
WAGER: 0.5 Units
Bryan Reynolds ended 2021 tied with Yuli Gurriel for 12th in hits, with 169 in 646 plate appearances. He also finished second in hits among outfielders. Trea Turner finished first overall with 195 hits.
Reynolds spent most of 2021 batting third in the order behind Adam Frazier and Hayes, but could end up batting second this season, giving him a few more PAs and more opportunities for hits. Even if he stays third in the order, he is an interesting bet to lead the league in hits.
Reynolds is a disciplined hitter with a good eye at the plate. He will bat in the top third of the order and will see pitches to hit without much protection in the lineup. +5000 odds make him a great value to lead baseball in hits this upcoming season.
Oneil Cruz: Win 2022 NL Rookie of the Year (+350) at DraftKings Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Shortstop Oneil Cruz is a toolsy prospect for the Pirates and is brimming with potential. His projections range from 14-21 home runs, 9-18 stolen bases, and a .247-.277 batting average.
His biggest competition for NL Rookie of the Year is Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (+475) and future Phillies outfielder Bryson Stott (+800), neither of whom possesses Cruz’s power/speed/average potential.
The sky’s the limit for Cruz, who should be called up to the Pirates’ major-league roster early in the season if he does not make the team out of spring training. Even if he falls somewhere in the middle of his projections, he has a clear path to winning the NL ROY award.