Saturday, May 3, 7:05 PM on RSN, ROOT

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Toronto Blue Jays - Dickey, R (2-3) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - Liriano, F (0-3)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Saturday night, the Toronto Blue Jays will give the ball to R.A. Dickey as they face the Pittsburgh Pirates and Francisco Liriano.  Both pitchers will be making their 7th starts of the season.

R.A. Dickey improved his record to 2 – 3 and his ERA to 5.09 after winning his last start. In that outing, Dickey went 6.1 innings and gave up a run on 5 hits without issuing a walk as he struck out 6.  Last year, the knuckleballer was 14 – 13 with an ERA of 4.21 in 34 starts.

In 2013, Dickey didn’t face the Pirates but thanks to his National League experience, he has seen some of their hitters before.  Pittsburgh’s Gaby Sanchez is a .381 hitter with a home run and 7 RBIs when facing the right-handed knuckleballer.

Francisco Liriano is still in search of his first win this season.  His record stands at 0 – 3 with an ERA of 3.97 after his last start which ended early due to flu-like symptoms.  In that outing, Liriano went just 2 innings and only allowed 2 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.  But Liriano is expected to be fine for this start.  Last season, he was 16 – 8 with a 3.02 ERA in 26 starts.

In 2013, Liriano didn’t face the Blue Jays but he knows what the lineup is capable of.  Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion is just 2 of 4 against Liriano but both of those hits were home runs.

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Trends

Toronto Blue Jays are 15-11-0 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Toronto Blue Jays is -0.2

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 10-14-2 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is -0.3

Injuries to Watch

Toronto Blue Jays

04/19/14 1B Adam Lind Back 15-day DL (4/16)
04/14/14 2B Maicer Izturis Knee 60-day DL (4/14)
03/31/14 P Casey Janssen Shoulder 15-day DL (3/29)

Pittsburgh Pirates

04/26/14 P Jason Grilli Oblique 15-day DL (4/21)
04/26/14 C Russell Martin Hamstring 15-day DL (4/26)
04/23/14 P Wandy Rodriguez Knee 15-day DL (4/21)

Tony's Pick: Take Toronto

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