Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Citizens Bank Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Ivan Nova vs. Alec Asher

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday to play the Philadelphia Phillies. The probable starters are Ivan Nova for the Pirates and Alec Asher for the Phillies. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh at -160 and Philadelphia at +150. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Pirates have a 77-61-3 over/under record and a 65-76-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 46% of the time. The Phillies are 73-70-0 against the run line and have a 68-69-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 51% of the time.

The Pirates head into this matchup with a 69-72 record, including 33-34 on the road. Starting pitcher Ivan Nova has a 12-6 record with an earned run average of 4.13 and a WHIP of 1.22. He has 107 strikeouts over his 143.2 innings pitched and he has given up 148 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.3 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 4.44. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.58 and they have given up 477 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .249 against the bullpen while being struck out 437 times and walking 199 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.4 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.18. The Pirates pitchers have collectively given up 1,293 base hits and 590 earned runs. They have allowed 157 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a pitching staff has walked 468 batters and struck out 1,044. They walk 3.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.4 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.39 and their FIP as a unit is 4.35.

As a team, Pittsburgh is batting .258, good for 13th in the league while putting together a .244 average away from home. The Pirates hold a .402 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .331 which is good for 4th in baseball. They rank 15th in baseball with 8.82 hits per game. Starling Marte comes into this game hitting .311 and his on-base percentage is at .362. He has 151 hits this season along with 71 runs scored and 46 runs batted in. He's struck out 103 times and has walked 23 times. Andrew McCutchen is hitting .247 and he has an on-base percentage of .329. He has totaled 128 hits so far while scoring 71 runs and he's driven in 62. He has walked 59 times and has struck out 130 times. The Pirates have 1,244 hits, including 246 doubles and 131 home runs. They've stolen 101 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 42 times. Pittsburgh has walked 471 times this season and they've struck out 1,152 times as a unit. They've left 1,015 men on base and have a team OPS of .733. They score 4.45 runs per contest and have scored a total of 628 runs so far this year.

Philadelphia comes into this matchup with a 30-39 home record and a 63-80 overall mark. With an earned run average of 0.00, Alec Asher has a 1-0 record and a 0.50 WHIP. He has 0 strikeouts over the 6 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 2 hits. He has allowed 3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.64. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.52 and they have given up 468 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .260 against the Phillies bullpen while being struck out 446 times and walking 172 times this season. As a team, Philadelphia has allowed 9.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.21 batters per nine. They are 24th in the league in team earned run average at 4.48. The Phillies pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,289 base knocks and 630 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 187 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Philadelphia as a staff has walked 392 hitters and struck out 1,155. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.33 while their FIP as a staff is 4.26.

As a team, they are batting .236, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .222 average at home. The Phillies hold a .381 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .295 which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 30th in baseball with 7.87 hits per contest. Odubel Herrera comes into this matchup batting .275 and he has an OBP of .354. He has 141 hits this year along with 72 runs scored and 42 RBI. He's struck out 118 times and has walked on 59 occasions. Cesar Hernandez is hitting .290 and he has an OBP of .357. He has collected 138 hits so far while he's scored 55 runs and drove in 36. He has earned a walk 50 times and has punched out 100 times. The Phillies as a unit have 1,125 base hits, including 203 doubles and 142 homers. They have 80 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 39 times. Philadelphia as a team has walked 360 times this year and they have struck out 1,188 times. They've had 896 men left on base and have an OPS of .676. They score 3.64 runs per game and have totaled 520 runs so far this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 77-61-3 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 65-76-0 against the run line so far this season

Philadelphia Phillies Betting Trends

The Philadelphia Phillies are 68-69-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Philadelphia Phillies are 73-70-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/12/16 2B Josh Harrison Groin 15-day DL (9/10)
09/12/16 LF Starling Marte Back "?" Monday vs. Philadelphia Phillies
09/07/16 C Elias Diaz Infection out for season
08/29/16 P Gerrit Cole Elbow 15-day DL (8/25), expected to be activated & start Monday vs. Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies

09/11/16 3B Maikel Franco Thumb "?" Monday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
09/04/16 P Vincent Velasquez None out for season
08/17/16 P Aaron Nola Elbow 60-day DL (7/29); out for season
08/09/16 P Zach Eflin Knee 60-day DL (8/9); out for season
05/01/16 P Dalier Hinojosa Hand 15-day DL (4/29)
04/24/16 P Charlie Morton Hamstring 60-day DL (4/24); out for season
03/31/16 P Matt Harrison Back 60-day DL (4/2)

Josh's Pick: Take the Pirates

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