Sunday, August 9, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Alex Wood (7-7) vs. Charlie Morton (7-4)

The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers to PNC Park on Sunday. The probable starters are Alex Wood for the Dodgers and Charlie Morton for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Los Angeles at -105 and Pittsburgh at -105. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Dodgers have a 53-51 over/under record and a 48-61 run line mark, meaning they cover 48% of the time. The Pirates have a 47-50 over/under record and a 46-61 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 43% of the time.

The Dodgers head into this matchup with a 62-47 record, including 25-29 on the road. Alex Wood has a 7-7 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.65 and a 1.42 WHIP. The Dodgers are 8-13 over his 125.2 innings pitched and he's also given up 140 hits over that time period. Against the over/under, the Dodgers are 9-8 in his starts. His teammates are averaging 3.8 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.98 and they have given up 286 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .243 against the Dodgers bullpen while walking 109 times and striking out 343 times. Los Angeles is averaging 7.49 strikeouts per game while getting 8.28 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 10th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.61.

Los Angeles ranks 24th in the league in team batting average at .247 while hitting .248 on the road. The Dodgers hold a .394 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .309 which is good for 21st in baseball. Howie Kendrick leads the team in hits with 118 while the team ranks 24th in baseball with 8.28 hits per game.

With a 37-18 home record, Pittsburgh will hope to improve on their 63-44 overall mark. Charlie Morton has a record of 7-4 while sporting an earned run average of 4.19 on the year with a 1.28 WHIP. The Pirates have a record of 9-4 over the 77.1 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 75 hits. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 4-7 when he starts. His teammates score an average of 4.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.81 and they have given up 300 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .241 against the Pirates bullpen while walking 104 times and striking out 287 times. Pittsburgh is averaging 7.91 strikeouts per game while getting 8.51 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.20.

They rank 8th in the league in team batting average with a .257 average while hitting .260 at home. The Pirates hold a .386 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .317 which is good for 13th in baseball. Starling Marte leads the team in hits with 110 while the team ranks 8th in baseball with 8.87 hits a game.

Los Angeles has a team fielding percentage of .988 after having committed 48 errors with 1,135 assists and 2,897 put outs for the season. The Pirates have committed 79 errors on the season with 1271 assists and 2,942 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .982 on the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 53-51 against the over/under so far this season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are 48-61 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 47-50 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 46-61 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Los Angeles Dodgers

08/08/15 CF Joc Pederson Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
07/31/15 3B Justin Turner Thigh Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
06/18/15 P Chris Hatcher Oblique Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/15)
04/28/15 P Brandon McCarthy Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/26), out for season
04/06/15 P Bronson Arroyo Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6), out for season
04/06/15 P Hyun-Jin Ryu Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27), out for season

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/08/15 P Deolis Guerra Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/7)
08/01/15 P A.J. Burnett Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
07/20/15 SS Jordy Mercer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/20)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
07/06/15 3B Josh Harrison Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/6)
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)

Josh's Pick: Take the Dodgers

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Josh Schonwald