Toronto Blue Jays vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Preview, Odds & Pitching Matchup for August 19, 2025

Tuesday, August 19th, 2025

Toronto Blue Jays Take on Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

The Toronto Blue Jays (73-53, first in the AL East) head to PNC Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates (53-73, fifth in the NL Central) for an exciting MLB matchup on Tuesday, August 19 at 5:40 PM local time. The Pirates currently hold a 1-0 series lead.

Pitching Matchup

The Blue Jays will send ace Max Scherzer (3-2, 3.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 52 strikeouts) to the mound. Opposing him for the Pirates is their standout, Mitch Keller (5-11, 4.13 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 112 strikeouts). Oddsmakers have the Blue Jays as favorites (-148) and the Pirates as underdogs (+123), with an over/under set at 8 runs.

Weather

Today's weather at PNC Park is ideal for baseball, with partly cloudy skies, a high near 78°F, and low humidity. There is little chance of precipitation and winds are light out of the west at 5-10 mph, offering comfortable conditions for both players and fans.

Team Breakdown

The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game with a 53-73 overall record and a solid 35-29 record at home. Pirates pitchers have posted a 4.02 team ERA, which ranks eighth in the National League.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays are 31-32 in road games and 73-53 overall. The Blue Jays' offense stands out with a team batting average of .268, the highest in Major League Baseball.

This matchup marks the second time these teams have met this season.

Top Performers

For the Pirates, Bryan Reynolds has been a key contributor with 27 doubles, three triples, and 13 homers. Nick Gonzales is swinging a hot bat, going 11-for-41 with a double in his last 10 games.

The Blue Jays have been fueled offensively by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who sits at 21 home runs, 71 walks, 69 RBIs, and a .298 batting average. Over his last 10 games, Davis Schneider is 11-for-29 with two doubles, three home runs, and 10 RBIs.

Recent Form

The Pirates have struggled recently, going 3-7 in their last 10 contests, batting .215 as a team and posting a 6.04 team ERA. They have been outscored by 32 runs during this stretch. Conversely, the Blue Jays are 5-5 in their past 10 games, hitting .247 with a 4.55 team ERA, and have been outscored by five runs.

Injury News

Pirates: Oneil Cruz (7-Day IL, concussion), Endy Rodriguez (60-Day IL, elbow), Related Links

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