Sunday, April 20, 1:35 PM on FSWI, ROOT

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Milwaukee - Estrada, M (1-1) vs. Pittsburgh - Cole, G (2-1)

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Sunday afternoon, Marco Estrada will take the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers as they face Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates.  It will be the 4th start for both pitchers.

Marco Estrada’s record fell to 1 – 1 after taking the loss in his last start.  After a win in his second start, Estrada went 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 5 hits with a walk and 3 strikeouts. Estrada is averaging over 96 pitches per start and it is the highest in his career so far.  Last season, Estrada went 7 – 4 in 21 starts with an ERA of 3.87.

In 2013, Estrada was 2 – 0 in 3 starts against Pittsburgh with an ERA of 3.32.  In those outings, he stuck out 19 while walking just 2. In his career, he has been solid against the Pirates but Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen could pose a problem.  McCutchen is batting .280 against Estrada with 7 hits, 2 homers and 4 RBIs.

Gerrit Cole picked up a loss in his last start after winning his first 2 starts of the season.  Cole was hit hard, giving up 5 runs on 9 hits (including 2 home runs) while walking 3 and striking out 3 in 6 innings of work.  One of the homers that he surrendered was to the opposing pitcher, which is never a good thing.  Last season, Cole was 10 – 7 with an ERA of 3.22 in 19 starts during his rookie year.

In 2013, Cole was 1 – 1 with an ERA of 3.72 in 3 starts against the Brewers.  He will need to be careful when facing Milwaukee’s Jean Segura.  Segura is 4 of 9 with a double against Cole.

Milwaukee Betting Trends

Milwaukee is 6-11-0 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Milwaukee is +0.9

Pittsburgh Betting Trends

Pittsburgh is 8-7-2 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh is +0.2

Injuries to Watch

Milwaukee

04/17/14 1B Lyle Overbay Personal out indefinitely
04/13/14 P Brandon Kintzl Shoulder 15-day DL (4/9)
03/31/14 P Tom Gorzel Shoulder 15-day DL (3/21)

Pittsburgh

03/30/14 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (3/21)

Tony's Pick: Take Milwaukee

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