Thursday, August 4, 2016

Turner Field

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ryan Vogelsong vs. Tyrell Jenkins

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Turner Field on Thursday to play the Atlanta Braves. The probable starters are Ryan Vogelsong for the Pirates and Tyrell Jenkins for the Braves. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh at -134 and Atlanta at +124. The over/under was set at 9. The Pirates have a 60-43-1 over/under record and a 50-54-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 48% of the time. The Braves are 48-58-0 against the run line and have a 47-52-7 over/under record. They cover the spread 45% of the time.

The Pirates head into this matchup with a 53-51 record, including 24-28 on the road. Starting pitcher Ryan Vogelsong has a 1-1 record with an earned run average of 3.74 and a WHIP of 1.48. He has 16 strikeouts over his 21.2 innings pitched and he has given up 22 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.1 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.98. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.56 and they have given up 350 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .247 against the bullpen while being struck out 318 times and walking 145 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.45 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.25. The Pirates pitchers have collectively given up 955 base hits and 443 earned runs. They have allowed 117 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a pitching staff has walked 359 batters and struck out 776. They walk 3.4 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.5 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.40 and their FIP as a unit is 4.38.

As a team, Pittsburgh is batting .259, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .244 average away from home. The Pirates hold a .407 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .330 which is good for 5th in baseball. They rank 10th in baseball with 8.95 hits per game. Gregory Polanco comes into this game hitting .284 and his on-base percentage is at .357. He has 97 hits this season along with 57 runs scored and 56 runs batted in. He's struck out 78 times and has walked 42 times. Starling Marte is hitting .322 and he has an on-base percentage of .378. He has totaled 118 hits so far while scoring 57 runs and he's driven in 37. He has walked 19 times and has struck out 81 times. The Pirates have 931 hits, including 189 doubles and 97 home runs. They've stolen 78 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 29 times. Pittsburgh has walked 329 times this season and they've struck out 868 times as a unit. They've left 742 men on base and have a team OPS of .737. They score 4.58 runs per contest and have scored a total of 476 runs so far this year.

Atlanta comes into this matchup with a 16-39 home record and a 37-69 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.91, Tyrell Jenkins has a 1-2 record and a 1.77 WHIP. He has 15 strikeouts over the 29.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 32 hits. He has allowed 9.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 6.92. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.11 and they have given up 346 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the Braves bullpen while being struck out 356 times and walking 175 times this season. As a team, Atlanta has allowed 8.68 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.58 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.39. The Braves pitchers as a team have surrendered 923 base knocks and 467 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 117 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Atlanta as a staff has walked 367 hitters and struck out 806. They give up a walk 3.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.6 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.35 while their FIP as a staff is 4.32.

As a team, they are batting .242, good for 26th in the league while putting together a .246 average at home. The Braves hold a .356 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .306 which is good for 25th in baseball. They rank 24th in baseball with 8.26 hits per contest. Freddie Freeman comes into this matchup batting .280 and he has an OBP of .363. He has 112 hits this year along with 53 runs scored and 42 RBI. He's struck out 118 times and has walked on 46 occasions. Nick Markakis is hitting .267 and he has an OBP of .347. He has collected 106 hits so far while he's scored 41 runs and drove in 54. He has earned a walk 49 times and has punched out 67 times. The Braves as a unit have 876 base hits, including 180 doubles and 66 homers. They have 53 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Atlanta as a team has walked 305 times this year and they have struck out 808 times. They've had 760 men left on base and have an OPS of .663. They score 3.42 runs per game and have totaled 363 runs so far this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 60-43-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 50-54-0 against the run line so far this season

Atlanta Braves Betting Trends

The Atlanta Braves are 47-52-7 against the over/under so far this season

The Atlanta Braves are 48-58-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/02/16 C Francisco Cervelli Head injured last game, "?" Wednesday vs. Atlanta Braves
08/02/16 2B Josh Harrison Leg "?" Wednesday vs. Atlanta Braves
07/24/16 P Tyler Glasnow Shoulder 15-day DL (7/24)
07/04/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (7/2)
05/24/16 P Ryan Vogelsong Eye 60-day DL (5/24), expected to be activated & start Thursday vs. Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

08/02/16 P Julio Teheran Back 15-day DL (7/31)
08/01/16 P Matt Marksberry Shoulder 15-day DL (7/31)
07/16/16 P Arodys Vizcaino Oblique 15-day DL (7/15)
07/12/16 C Tyler Flowers Hand 15-day DL (7/10)
06/28/16 P John Gant Oblique 15-day DL (6/27)
06/20/16 LF Mallex Smith Thumb 15-day DL (6/20)
06/08/16 P Williams Perez Rotator Cuff 15-day DL (6/7)
04/12/16 P Daniel Winkler Elbow 15-day DL (4/11)
04/04/16 P Andrew McKirahan Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Paco Rodriguez Elbow out for season
04/04/16 P Shae Simmons Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Guy's Pick: Take the Pirates

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