Thursday, April 14, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jordan Zimmermann vs. Gerrit Cole

The Detroit Tigers visit PNC Park on Thursday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Jordan Zimmermann for the Tigers and Gerrit Cole for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Detroit at +118 and Pittsburgh at -128. The over/under was set at 7. The Tigers have a 5-1-0 over/under record and a 3-3-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 50% of the time. The Pirates are 4-4-0 against the run line and have a 4-4-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 50% of the time.

The Tigers head into this matchup with a 4-2 record, including 2-0 on the road. Starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann has a 1-0 record with an earned run average of 0.00 and a WHIP of 0.71. He has 3 strikeouts over his 7 innings pitched and he has given up 2 hits so far this season. He has allowed 2.6 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.69. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.59 and they have given up 28 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .292 against the bullpen while being struck out 19 times and walking 8 times this season. As a team, Detroit has allowed 9.48 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.27 batters per nine. They are 21st in the league in team earned run average at 4.34. The Tigers pitchers have collectively given up 59 base hits and 27 earned runs. They have allowed 4 home runs this season and they allow 0.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 22 batters and struck out 39. They walk 3.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.3 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.45 and their FIP as a unit is 4.09.

As a team, Detroit is batting .298, good for 1st in the league while putting together a .309 average away from home. The Tigers hold a .477 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .358 which is good for 4th in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 10.83 hits per game. Miguel Cabrera comes into this game hitting .273 and his on-base percentage is at .407. He has 6 hits this season along with 4 runs scored and 4 runs batted in. He's struck out 4 times and has walked 5 times. Justin Upton is hitting .333 and he has an on-base percentage of .357. He has totaled 9 hits so far while scoring 5 runs and he's driven in 2. He has walked 1 time and has struck out 11 times. The Tigers have 65 hits, including 9 doubles and 10 home runs. They've stolen 0 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Detroit has walked 21 times this season and they've struck out 55 times as a unit. They've left 44 men on base and have a team OPS of .835. They score 5.83 runs per contest and have scored a total of 35 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 3-0 home record and a 5-3 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.79, Gerrit Cole has a 0-1 record and a 1.71 WHIP. He has 4 strikeouts over the 4.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 5 hits. He has allowed 9.6 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.48. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 2.73 and they have given up 23 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .215 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 25 times and walking 11 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 7.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.33 batters per nine. They are 10th in the league in team earned run average at 3.53. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 61 base knocks and 28 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 9 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 32 hitters and struck out 66. They give up a walk 4 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.3 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.30 while their FIP as a staff is 4.57.

As a team, they are batting .296, good for 2nd in the league while putting together a .300 average at home. The Pirates hold a .412 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .387 which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 6th in baseball with 9.88 hits per contest. Andrew McCutchen comes into this matchup batting .258 and he has an OBP of .378. He has 8 hits this year along with 4 runs scored and 1 RBI. He's struck out 4 times and has walked on 5 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .333 and he has an OBP of .389. He has collected 11 hits so far while he's scored 4 runs and drove in 6. He has earned a walk 1 time and has punched out 7 times. The Pirates as a unit have 79 base hits, including 16 doubles and 3 homers. They have 3 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 5 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 36 times this year and they have struck out 56 times. They've had 72 men left on base and have an OPS of .799. They score 4 runs per game and have totaled 32 runs so far this season.

Detroit Tigers Betting Trends

The Detroit Tigers are 5-1-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Detroit Tigers are 3-3-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-4-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-4-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Detroit Tigers

04/12/16 C James McCann Ankle Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/12)
04/10/16 P Alex Wilson Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (4/7)
04/04/16 P Blaine Hardy Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 CF Cameron Maybin Wrist Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Daniel Norris Back Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/04/16 P Jeff Ferrell Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/01/16 P Angel Nesbitt Ankle Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Pittsburgh Pirates

04/12/16 P Francisco Liriano Hamstring scratched from start Wednesday vs. Detroit Tigers
04/04/16 3B Jung-ho Kang Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
04/03/16 P Jared Hughes Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (3/25)

Tony's Pick: Take the Tigers

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 Tony Sink