Thursday, September 18, 2014

PNC Park in Pittsburgh

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Thursday night, Brandon Workman (1 - 9, 5.27 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Boston Red Sox as they take on Gerrit Cole (9 - 5, 3.92 ERA) and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It will be Workman’s 15th start and 19th appearance and Cole’s 20th start.

Brandon Workman’s slide continued as he dropped yet another game in his last start.  In the loss, Workman was torched for 6 runs and 6 hits through just 3 innings as he walked 3 and struck out 3.  Workman has lost 9 of his last 10 appearances and it looks like the season’s end will be the only thing to halt the streak.  Last season, Workman made 3 starts and 17 relief appearances en route to a 6 - 3 record and a 4.97 ERA.

Workman has never faced the Pirates and will have to summon his will if he wants to have any shot of picking up a win. 

Gerrit Cole notched his 2nd straight victory in his last outing.  In the win, Cole gave up 3 runs and 5 hits (including 2 home runs) in 6 innings.  He struck out 6 while walking just 1. Cole hasn’t been great since coming off of the disabled list but he has been consistent.  He is 2 -1 in 5 starts since coming off the DL and 5 -2 in his last 10 starts overall.  In 2013, Cole finished his rookie season with a 10 – 7 record and a 3.22 ERA in 19 starts.

Cole didn’t face the Red Sox last season and he has only seen 2 of the Boston hitters before.  Yoenis Cespedes is 1 for 3 against Cole while Allen Craig is 0 for 6.          

Boston Red Sox Betting Trends

Boston Red Sox are 64-83-4 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Boston Red Sox is -0.6

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 70-72-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is 0.3

Injuries to Watch

Boston Red Sox

09/16/14 DH David Ortiz Personal doubtful Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
09/13/14 CF Brock Holt Concussion out indefinitely
09/10/14 2B Dustin Pedroia Hand out for season
08/01/14 RF Shane Victorino Back 60-day DL (7/30)
05/31/14 1B Ryan Lavarnway Wrist 60-day DL (5/30)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/17/14 SS Jordy Mercer Back "?" Wednesday vs. Boston Red Sox
09/10/14 3B Pedro Alvarez Foot out indefinitely
08/16/14 P Stolmy Pimentel Ankle 15-day DL (8/14)

Josh's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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