Friday, April 15, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jimmy Nelson vs. Jeff Locke

The Milwaukee Brewers visit PNC Park on Friday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Jimmy Nelson for the Brewers and Jeff Locke for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee at +130 and Pittsburgh at -140. The over/under was set at 8. The Brewers have a 5-3-0 over/under record and a 5-3-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 63% of the time. The Pirates are 4-5-0 against the run line and have a 5-4-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 44% of the time.

The Brewers head into this matchup with a 4-4 record, including 1-1 on the road. Starting pitcher Jimmy Nelson has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 2.70 and a WHIP of 0.98. He has 12 strikeouts over his 13.1 innings pitched and he has given up 8 hits so far this season. He has allowed 5.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 5.42. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.31 and they have given up 34 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .276 against the bullpen while being struck out 19 times and walking 11 times this season. As a team, Milwaukee has allowed 9.38 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.21 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.82. The Brewers pitchers have collectively given up 74 base hits and 38 earned runs. They have allowed 13 home runs this season and they allow 1.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Milwaukee as a pitching staff has walked 27 batters and struck out 49. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.42 and their FIP as a unit is 5.31.

As a team, Milwaukee is batting .233, good for 19th in the league while putting together a .221 average away from home. The Brewers hold a .399 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .321 which is good for 14th in baseball. They rank 21st in baseball with 7.38 hits per game. Ryan Braun comes into this game hitting .276 and his on-base percentage is at .344. He has 8 hits this season along with 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in. He's struck out 6 times and has walked 3 times. Domingo Santana is hitting .258 and he has an on-base percentage of .361. He has totaled 8 hits so far while scoring 5 runs and he's driven in 6. He has walked 5 times and has struck out 9 times. The Brewers have 59 hits, including 12 doubles and 10 home runs. They've stolen 1 base while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Milwaukee has walked 32 times this season and they've struck out 78 times as a unit. They've left 53 men on base and have a team OPS of .720. They score 3.5 runs per contest and have scored a total of 28 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 3-1 home record and a 5-4 overall mark. With an earned run average of 1.50, Jeff Locke has a 0-0 record and a 1.50 WHIP. He has 1 strikeout over the 6 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 7 hits. He has allowed 10.5 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.01. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.01 and they have given up 29 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .232 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 29 times and walking 16 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 7.95 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.4 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 3.92. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 71 base knocks and 35 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 11 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 37 hitters and struck out 75. They give up a walk 4.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.34 while their FIP as a staff is 4.62.

As a team, they are batting .280, good for 5th in the league while putting together a .264 average at home. The Pirates hold a .389 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .375 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 10th in baseball with 9.22 hits per contest. Andrew McCutchen comes into this matchup batting .257 and he has an OBP of .366. He has 9 hits this year along with 4 runs scored and 2 RBI. He's struck out 7 times and has walked on 5 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .306 and he has an OBP of .375. He has collected 11 hits so far while he's scored 4 runs and drove in 6. He has earned a walk 2 times and has punched out 9 times. The Pirates as a unit have 83 base hits, including 17 doubles and 3 homers. They have 3 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 5 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 41 times this year and they have struck out 66 times. They've had 76 men left on base and have an OPS of .763. They score 3.89 runs per game and have totaled 35 runs so far this season.

Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Brewers are 5-3-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Milwaukee Brewers are 5-3-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 5-4-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-5-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Milwaukee Brewers

04/04/16 P Corey Knebel Oblique 15-day DL (4/1)
04/04/16 P Matt Garza Shoulder 15-day DL (4/2)
04/04/16 LF Rymer Liriano Facial 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Zach Jones Shoulder 15-day DL (3/31)
04/02/16 P Yhonathan Barrios Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
04/01/16 P Sean Nolin Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
03/30/16 P Will Smith Knee 15-day DL (3/25)

Pittsburgh Pirates

04/13/16 P Francisco Liriano Hamstring "?" next start
04/04/16 3B Jung-ho Kang Knee 15-day DL (3/25)
04/03/16 P Jared Hughes Oblique 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Josh's Pick: Take the Pirates

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