Friday, July 24, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Max Scherzer (10-8) vs. Jeff Locke (5-6)

The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Washington Nationals to PNC Park on Friday. The probable starters are Max Scherzer for the Nationals and Jeff Locke for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at -111 and Pittsburgh at +103. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Nationals, with a 42-51 run line record, cover the spread 45% of the time. They also have a 47-42 over/under record. The Pirates have a 39-46 over/under record and a 39-55 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 42% of the time.

The Nationals come into this game with a 51-42 record, and they are 23-23 away from home. Max Scherzer has a 10-8 record on the season, an earned run average of 2.09 and a 0.80 WHIP. The Nationals are 11-8 over his 138 innings pitched and he's also given up 96 hits over that time period. Against the over/under, the Nationals are 5-13 in his starts. The team is averaging 3.3 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 253 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 3.37. Teams are hitting .248 against the bullpen while being struck out 248 times and walking 82 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 8.99 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.95 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.58.

Washington is batting .252 as a team, which is good for 17th in the league and hitting .260 away from home. The Nationals on-base percentage sits at .317, which puts them at 11th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .396. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.44 hits per game and Yunel Escobar leads the team with 104.

With a 54-40 overall record, Pittsburgh will come into this game 32-16 at home. Jeff Locke has a record of 5-6 while sporting an earned run average of 4.01 on the year with a 1.41 WHIP. The Pirates have a record of 9-9 over the 103.1 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 108 hits. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 8-9 when he starts. The team is averaging 3.4 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 254 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.50. Teams are hitting .237 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 248 times and walking 82 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.3 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.73 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.99.

They are batting .255 as a team, which is good for 11th in the league and hitting .255 at home. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .316, which puts them at 14th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .379. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.83 hits per game and Andrew McCutchen leads the team with 95.

In terms of team defense, the Nationals have a fielding percentage of .983 with 59 total errors, 870 assists and 2,472 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .982 team fielding percentage while committing 69 errors, accumulating 1141 assists and compiling 2,594 put outs.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 47-42 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 42-51 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 39-46 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 39-55 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

07/23/15 3B Yunel Escobar Wrist is downgraded to doubtful Thursday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
07/10/15 CF Denard Span Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/6)
07/05/15 P Stephen Strasburg Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/4)
06/26/15 2B Anthony Rendon Quad Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/25)
06/11/15 1B Ryan Zimmerman Foot Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/10)
05/19/15 LF Jayson Werth Wrist Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/16)
04/30/15 LF Reed Johnson Calf Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/29)
04/15/15 P Craig Stammen Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/14)
04/06/15 LF Nate McLouth Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Pittsburgh Pirates

07/23/15 P Francisco Liriano Neck is upgraded to probable Thursday vs. Washington Nationals
07/22/15 C Francisco Cervelli Wrist "?" Thursday vs. Washington Nationals
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)
04/06/15 SS Justin Sellers Heel Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Guy's Pick: Take the Nationals

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