Thursday, July 21, 2016
PNC Park
For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here
Probable Pitchers: Matt Garza vs. Francisco Liriano
The Milwaukee Brewers head to PNC Park on Thursday to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable pitchers are Matt Garza for the Brewers and Francisco Liriano for the Pirates. The opening line for this game has Milwaukee at +158 and Pittsburgh at -168. The over/under is 8.5. The Brewers have a 43-42-6 over/under mark and a 47-44-0 run line record, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Pirates are 46-47-0 against the run line and have a 54-38-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 50% of the time.
The Brewers head into this game with a 39-52 record, and they are 16-30 on the road. Starting pitcher Matt Garza has a 1-3 record with an ERA of 5.74 and a WHIP of 1.72. He has 19 strikeouts during his 31.1 innings pitched and he has given up 43 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 12.4 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.43. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 4.04 and they have allowed 305 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .260 against the pen while they've been struck out 285 times and walked 131 times this year. As a unit, Milwaukee has given up 9.25 base hits per nine innings while striking out 7.47 hitters per nine. They are 21st in the Majors in team earned run average at 4.40. The Brewers pitchers have collectively given up 826 base hits and 393 earned runs. They have allowed 110 home runs this season and they allow 1.2 homers per nine innings as a staff. Milwaukee as a pitching staff has walked 320 batters and struck out 667. They walk 3.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.43 and their FIP as a unit is 4.62.
As a team, Milwaukee is hitting .245, good for 22nd in the league while putting together a .242 average on the road. The Brewers have a .389 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .321 which is good for 18th in the league. They rank 28th in baseball with 8.04 hits per contest. Jonathan Lucroy comes into this game hitting .305 and his on-base percentage is at .362. He has 94 hits this season along with 43 runs scored and 45 runs batted in. He's struck out 63 times and has walked 28 times. Ryan Braun is hitting .313 and he has an on-base percentage of .369. He has totaled 93 hits so far while scoring 38 runs and he's driven in 44. He has walked 24 times and has struck out 53 times. The Brewers have 732 hits, including 138 doubles and 92 home runs. They've stolen 79 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 30 times. Milwaukee has walked 331 times this season and they've struck out 867 times as a unit. They've left 622 men on base and have a team OPS of .711. They score 3.92 runs per contest and have scored a total of 357 runs so far this year.
Pittsburgh comes into this game with a 25-20 home mark and a 48-45 overall record. With an ERA of 5.11, Francisco Liriano has a 5-9 record and a 1.61 WHIP. He has 93 strikeouts over the 98.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 97 hits. He has allowed 8.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.18. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.60 and they have given up 314 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .247 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 277 times and walking 133 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.14 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.19 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.28. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 854 base knocks and 400 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 105 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 326 hitters and struck out 672. They give up a walk 3.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.40 while their FIP as a staff is 4.46.
As a team, they are batting .260, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .272 average at home. The Pirates hold a .407 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .332 which is good for 7th in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 9.04 hits per contest. Gregory Polanco comes into this matchup batting .284 and he has an OBP of .360. He has 86 hits this year along with 51 runs scored and 50 RBI. He's struck out 72 times and has walked on 39 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .312 and he has an OBP of .362. He has collected 103 hits so far while he's scored 50 runs and drove in 34. He has earned a walk 14 times and has punched out 74 times. The Pirates as a unit have 841 base hits, including 166 doubles and 89 homers. They have 72 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 304 times this year and they have struck out 789 times. They've had 684 men left on base and have an OPS of .739. They score 4.61 runs per game and have totaled 429 runs so far this season.
Milwaukee Brewers Betting Trends
The Milwaukee Brewers are 43-42-6 against the over/under so far this season
The Milwaukee Brewers are 47-44-0 against the run line so far this season
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 54-38-1 against the over/under so far this season
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 46-47-0 against the run line so far this season
Injuries to Watch
Milwaukee Brewers
06/10/16 RF Domingo Santana Elbow 15-day DL (6/8)
05/27/16 P Chris Capuano Elbow 60-day DL (4/2)
04/04/16 LF Rymer Liriano Facial 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Zach Jones Shoulder 60-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)
Pittsburgh Pirates
07/20/16 P Jameson Taillon Head "?" for next scheduled start
07/04/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (7/2)
05/24/16 P Ryan Vogelsong Eye 60-day DL (5/24)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
Tony'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 Tony Sink
Get all of Today's Free MLB Picks
Get all of Today's Expert MLB Picks