Sunday, April 17, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Zach Davies vs. Juan Nicasio

The Milwaukee Brewers visit PNC Park on Sunday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Zach Davies for the Brewers and Juan Nicasio for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Milwaukee at +154 and Pittsburgh at -164. The over/under was set at 8. The Brewers have a 6-4-0 over/under record and a 6-4-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 60% of the time. The Pirates are 4-7-0 against the run line and have a 7-4-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 36% of the time.

The Brewers head into this matchup with a 5-5 record, including 2-2 on the road. Starting pitcher Zach Davies is making his season debut for the Brewers. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 4.34 and they have given up 42 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .282 against the bullpen while being struck out 28 times and walking 12 times this season. As a team, Milwaukee has allowed 9.51 hits per nine innings while striking out 6.55 batters per nine. They are 23rd in the league in team earned run average at 4.81. The Brewers pitchers have collectively given up 93 base hits and 47 earned runs. They have allowed 16 home runs this season and they allow 1.6 homers per nine innings as a staff. Milwaukee as a pitching staff has walked 34 batters and struck out 64. They walk 3.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 6.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.44 and their FIP as a unit is 5.26.

As a team, Milwaukee is batting .225, good for 21st in the league while putting together a .206 average away from home. The Brewers hold a .383 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .319 which is good for 12th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 7.1 hits per game. Ryan Braun comes into this game hitting .297 and his on-base percentage is at .350. He has 11 hits this season along with 5 runs scored and 7 runs batted in. He's struck out 8 times and has walked 3 times. Domingo Santana is hitting .250 and he has an on-base percentage of .348. He has totaled 10 hits so far while scoring 5 runs and he's driven in 7. He has walked 6 times and has struck out 10 times. The Brewers have 71 hits, including 14 doubles and 12 home runs. They've stolen 4 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 2 times. Milwaukee has walked 43 times this season and they've struck out 99 times as a unit. They've left 67 men on base and have a team OPS of .701. They score 3.6 runs per contest and have scored a total of 36 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 3-3 home record and a 5-6 overall mark. With an earned run average of 5.00, Juan Nicasio has a 1-1 record and a 1.44 WHIP. He has 11 strikeouts over the 9 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 8 hits. He has allowed 8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.27. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 5.49 and they have given up 40 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .253 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 35 times and walking 21 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.33 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.24 batters per nine. They are 20th in the league in team earned run average at 4.48. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 91 base knocks and 49 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 14 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 50 hitters and struck out 90. They give up a walk 4.6 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.43 while their FIP as a staff is 4.85.

As a team, they are batting .282, good for 5th in the league while putting together a .273 average at home. The Pirates hold a .390 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .370 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 9.55 hits per contest. Andrew McCutchen comes into this matchup batting .256 and he has an OBP of .373. He has 11 hits this year along with 5 runs scored and 2 RBI. He's struck out 9 times and has walked on 7 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .348 and he has an OBP of .400. He has collected 16 hits so far while he's scored 5 runs and drove in 8. He has earned a walk 2 times and has punched out 9 times. The Pirates as a unit have 105 base hits, including 22 doubles and 4 homers. They have 7 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 5 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 48 times this year and they have struck out 76 times. They've had 97 men left on base and have an OPS of .760. They score 3.91 runs per game and have totaled 43 runs so far this season.

Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends

The Milwaukee Brewers are 6-4-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Milwaukee Brewers are 6-4-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 7-4-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 4-7-0 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

04/14/16 P Cory Luebke Hamstring 15-day DL (4/14)
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 Brewers

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