Saturday, July 25, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Gio Gonz (7-4) vs. A.J. Bur (8-3)

The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Washington Nationals to PNC Park on Saturday. The Nationals send Gio Gonzalez to the mound to face A.J. Burnett of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Washington at +118 and Pittsburgh at -128. The over/under was set at 7. The Nationals, with a 42-53 run line record, cover the spread 45% of the time. They also have a 49-42 over/under record. The Pirates are 41-55 against the run line and have a 41-46 over/under record. They cover the spread 42% of the time.

The Nationals show up with a 51-44 record, including 23-25 on the road. Starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez holds a 7-4 record with an earned run average of 3.93 and a WHIP of 1.44. The Nationals are 15-6 over his 100.2 innings pitched and he's also given up 106 hits over that time period. Against the over/under, the Nationals are 2-2 in his starts. He is getting 3.8 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 262 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 3.46. Teams are hitting .250 against the bullpen while being struck out 256 times and walking 82 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 9.04 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.98 batters per nine. They are 11th in the league in team earned run average at 3.62.

As a team, Washington is batting .251, good for 17th in the league while putting together a .258 average 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 .395. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.41 hits per game and Yunel Escobar leads the team with 104.

Pittsburgh is 34-16 at home while holding a 56-40 overall record on the season. With an earned run average of 2.44, A.J. Burnett will come into this game holding a 8-3 record and a 1.26 WHIP. The Pirates have a record of 12-5 over the 125.1 innings he's pitched during which he's given up 124 hits. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 7-10 when he starts. He is getting 3.8 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has given up 260 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.54. Teams are hitting .237 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 254 times and walking 85 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.27 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.79 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.99.

As a team, they are batting .256, good for 9th in the league while putting together a .258 average at home. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .317, which puts them at 14th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .383. They rank 7th in baseball with 8.87 hits per game and Starling Marte leads the team with 99.

In terms of team defense, the Nationals have a fielding percentage of .983 with 59 total errors, 886 assists and 2,520 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .982 team fielding percentage while committing 70 errors, accumulating 1163 assists and compiling 2,648 put outs.

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 49-42 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 42-53 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 41-46 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 41-55 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Washington Nationals

07/23/15 3B Yunel Escobar Wrist "?" Friday 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

07/20/15 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

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