Sunday, October 4, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Joshua Smith (0-3) vs. J.A. Happ (6-2)

The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Cincinnati Reds to PNC Park on Sunday. The Reds send Joshua Smith to the mound to face J.A. Happ of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Cincinnati at +106 and Pittsburgh at -116. The over/under was set at 7. The Reds have a 83-71 over/under record and a 78-81 run line mark, meaning they cover 49% of the time. The Pirates have a 75-73 over/under record and a 72-88 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 45% of the time.

The Reds head into this matchup with a 63-97 record, including 29-50 on the road. Starting pitcher Joshua Smith holds a 0-3 record with an earned run average of 7.22 and a WHIP of 1.95. He's pitched 28.2 innings thus far while surrendering 35 hits over that time and when he starts, the Reds are 1-5. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 5-1. His teammates are averaging 4.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 3.98 and they've given up 505 hits on the season. The bullpen has struck out 495 and walked 229 batters this season while opposing teams hit .241 against them. Cincinnati has a team average of 8.89 hits allowed per game and are averaging 7.74 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 4.37, they are 26th in the league.

Cincinnati ranks 23rd in the league in team batting average at .249 while hitting .243 on the road. Ranked at 20th in the league in on-base percentage, the Reds sit at .313 and they hold a .395 team slugging percentage. With 169 hits, Joey Votto leads the team while his team ranks 16th in hits per game with 8.56.

With a 52-27 home record, Pittsburgh will hope to improve on their 97-63 overall mark. With an earned run average of 2.04, J.A. Happ will come into this game holding a 6-2 record and a 1.03 WHIP. He's pitched 57.1 innings thus far while surrendering 49 hits over that time in which the Pirates are 7-3. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 2-8. His teammates score an average of 3.7 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.70 and they have given up 448 hits on the season. The Pirates bullpen has struck out 458 batters and walked 160 this season while opposing teams have hit .231 against them. Pittsburgh has a team average of 8.44 hits per game and are averaging 8.06 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.25, they are 2nd in the league.

They rank 8th in the league in team batting average with a .260 average while hitting .259 at home. Ranked at 9th in the league in on-base percentage, the Pirates sit at .324 and they hold a .396 team slugging percentage. With 162 hits, Andrew McCutchen leads the team while his team ranks 8th in hits per game with 9.03.

The Reds have committed 90 errors and have combined for 1,602 assists and 4,309 put outs leading to a .985 team fielding percentage. Over the course of this season, the Pirates have accumulated 121 errors while having 1,849 assists and 4,415 put outs leading to a .981 fielding percentage.

Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends

The Cincinnati Reds are 83-71 against the over/under so far this season

The Cincinnati Reds are 78-81 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 75-73 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 72-88 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Cincinnati Reds

09/22/15 CF Billy Hamilton Shoulder out for season
09/22/15 CF Ryan LaMarre Hamstring out indefinitely
09/12/15 2B Kristopher Negron Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list; out for season
06/17/15 P Jon Moscot Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/16)
06/11/15 SS Zack Cozart Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/11); out for season
05/25/15 C Devin Mesoraco Hip Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/23), out for season
04/28/15 P Homer Bailey Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/26); out for season
04/04/15 P Sean Marshall Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/5)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/17/15 SS Jung Ho Kang Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/21); out for season
09/02/15 P Casey Sadler Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/1)
08/08/15 P Deolis Guerra Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/7)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
06/24/15 RF Corey Hart Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/22)
05/07/15 LF Andrew Lambo Plantar Fasciitis Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/4)
04/06/15 P Brandon Cumpton Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Tony's Pick: Take the Reds

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