Friday, August 29, 2014

PNC Park in Pittsburgh

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Friday night, the Cincinnati Reds will give the ball to Mike Leake (10 – 11, 3.51 ERA) as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates and Edinson Volquez (11 – 7, 3.56 ERA).   Leake makes his 28th start as Volquez makes his 26th start and 27th appearance. 

Mike Leake helped out his team on the mound and at the plate as he picked up the win in his last outing.  Leake threw 6.2 innings of scoreless ball, allowing 2 hits and 3 walks while striking out 6.  He also hit a double and eventually scored the winning run.  Despite his great performance, Leake has allowed 3 or more runs 6 times in his last 10 outings.  He is just 4 - 4 in that span of time.  Last season, Leake was 14 – 7 with a 3.37 ERA in 31 starts.

In 2013, Leake was 3 – 0 with a 3.28 ERA in 4 starts against the Pirates.   This season, he is 1 – 0 in 3 stars against Pittsburgh. 

Edinson Volquez wasn’t stellar on the mound in his last start but he still came away with the victory.  Volquez surrendered 2 runs on 11 hits (including a home run) in 5.2 innings of work.  He walked 2 and struck out 3.  The 11 hits were a season-high.  Volquez has allowed 6 or more hits in 7 of his last 10 starts but amazingly, he is 6 – 1 in those 10 starts.  In 2013, Volquez was 9 – 12 with a 5.71 ERA in 32 starts and a relief appearance for the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Last season, Volquez didn’t get the decision in his only outing against the Reds. This season, he is 0 – 2 against Cincinnati in 2 starts.        

Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends

Cincinnati Reds are 59-68-5 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Cincinnati Reds is 0

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 62-62-8 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is 0.1

Injuries to Watch

Cincinnati Reds

08/18/14 P Homer Bailey Elbow 15-day DL (8/8)
08/17/14 1B Joey Votto Quad 60-day DL (7/1)
08/07/14 P Logan Ondrusek Shoulder 15-day DL (7/13)
06/21/14 P Trevor Bell Elbow 60-day DL (4/08)
06/14/14 P Sean Marshall Shoulder 60-day DL (6/13)

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/27/14 3B Pedro Alvarez Foot questionable
08/18/14 P Charlie Morton Hernia 15-day DL (8/16)
08/16/14 P Stolmy Pimentel Ankle 15-day DL (8/14)

Tony's Pick: Take Cincinnati

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