Sunday, June 7, 2015

Turner Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Gerrit Cole (8-2) vs. Alex Wood (4-2)

The Pittsburgh Pirates head to Turner Field on Sunday to take on the Atlanta Braves. The Pirates send Gerrit Cole to the mound to face Alex Wood of the Braves. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh at -138 and Atlanta at +128. The over/under was set at 7. The Pirates, with a 27-27 run line record, cover the spread 50% of the time. They also have a 23-23 over/under record. The Braves have a 33-18 over/under record and a 32-22 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 59% of the time.

The Pirates show up with a 30-24 record, including 15-15 on the road. Gerrit Cole has a 8-2 record on the season, an earned run average of 1.90 and a 1.08 WHIP. In his starts, the Pirates are 8-3 over his 71 innings pitched this season while giving up 61 hits during those innings. The Pirates are also 3-6 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 155 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 2.72. Opposing teams are hitting .245 against the Pirates bullpen while walking 52 times and striking out 148 times. Pittsburgh is averaging 8.26 strikeouts per game while getting 8.38 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 2nd in baseball in team earned run average at 3.04.

Pittsburgh ranks 11th in the league in team batting average at .256 while hitting .254 on the road. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .313, which puts them at 17th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .391. Andrew McCutchen leads the team in hits with 55 while the team ranks 10th in baseball with 8.83 hits per game.

Atlanta is 12-11 at home while holding a 26-28 overall record on the season. Alex Wood has a record of 4-2 while sporting an earned run average of 3.19 on the year with a 1.42 WHIP. In his starts, the Braves are 4-6 and he has allowed 70 hits over 62 innings pitched this season. The Braves are also 6-2 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates score an average of 4.6 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has given up 149 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 5.03. Opposing teams are hitting .246 against the Braves bullpen while walking 74 times and striking out 140 times. Atlanta is averaging 7.27 strikeouts per game while getting 8.77 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 25th in the league in team earned run average at 4.30.

They rank 12th in the league in team batting average with a .255 average while hitting .256 at home. The Braves on-base percentage sits at .318, which puts them at 13th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .374. Nick Markakis leads the team in hits with 61 while the team ranks 14th in baseball with 8.56 hits a game.

In terms of team defense, the Pirates have a fielding percentage of .980 with 42 total errors, 625 assists and 1,475 put outs. The Braves have committed 25 errors on the season with 540 assists and 1,419 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .987 on the year.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 23-23 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 27-27 against the run line so far this season

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 33-18 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 32-22 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

06/04/15 LF Jaff Decker Calf Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/30)
05/07/15 LF Andrew Lambo Plantar Fasciitis Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/4)
04/06/15 P Brandon Cumpton Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)
04/06/15 SS Justin Sellers Heel Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Atlanta Braves

06/06/15 2B Jace Peterson Hand is not expected to be in the starting lineup Saturday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
06/04/15 P Daniel Winkler Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/5)
05/19/15 2B Philip Gosselin Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/18)
05/13/15 3B Kelly Johnson Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (5/13)
04/07/15 P Josh Outman Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/6)
04/04/15 P Mike Minor Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27); out for season
04/04/15 P Shae Simmons Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (2/20), out for season
04/04/15 P Chris Withrow Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (2/21)

Guy's Pick: Take the Braves

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 Guy Bruhn