Saturday, July 16, 2016

Nationals Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Gerrit Cole vs. Tanner Roark

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit Nationals Park on Saturday to play the Washington Nationals. The probable starters are Gerrit Cole for the Pirates and Tanner Roark for the Nationals. The opening line for this matchup has Pittsburgh at -110 and Washington at +100. The over/under was set at 8. The Pirates have a 54-34-1 over/under record and a 45-44-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 51% of the time. The Nationals are 47-43-0 against the run line and have a 44-40-6 over/under record. They cover the spread 52% of the time.

The Pirates head into this matchup with a 46-43 record, including 22-23 on the road. Starting pitcher Gerrit Cole has a 5-4 record with an earned run average of 2.77 and a WHIP of 1.32. He has 55 strikeouts over his 68.1 innings pitched and he has given up 70 hits so far this season. He has allowed 9.2 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.1. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.70 and they have given up 300 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .250 against the bullpen while being struck out 257 times and walking 125 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.27 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.15 batters per nine. They are 17th in the league in team earned run average at 4.36. The Pirates pitchers have collectively given up 822 base hits and 387 earned runs. They have allowed 102 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a pitching staff has walked 312 batters and struck out 634. They walk 3.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.1 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.42 and their FIP as a unit is 4.55.

As a team, Pittsburgh is batting .264, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .255 average away from home. The Pirates hold a .414 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .337 which is good for 3rd in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 9.15 hits per game. Starling Marte comes into this game hitting .316 and his on-base percentage is at .363. He has 99 hits this season along with 48 runs scored and 32 runs batted in. He's struck out 69 times and has walked 12 times. Gregory Polanco is hitting .287 and he has an on-base percentage of .362. He has totaled 86 hits so far while scoring 50 runs and he's driven in 50. He has walked 38 times and has struck out 71 times. The Pirates have 814 hits, including 160 doubles and 88 home runs. They've stolen 68 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 22 times. Pittsburgh has walked 293 times this season and they've struck out 748 times as a unit. They've left 655 men on base and have a team OPS of .751. They score 4.75 runs per contest and have scored a total of 423 runs so far this year.

Washington comes into this matchup with a 27-15 home record and a 54-36 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.01, Tanner Roark has a 8-5 record and a 1.20 WHIP. He has 101 strikeouts over the 116.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 105 hits. He has allowed 8.1 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.25. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.11 and they have given up 209 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .224 against the Nationals bullpen while being struck out 266 times and walking 81 times this season. As a team, Washington has allowed 7.66 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.45 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 3.29. The Nationals pitchers as a team have surrendered 692 base knocks and 297 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 87 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Washington as a staff has walked 253 hitters and struck out 854. They give up a walk 2.8 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.16 while their FIP as a staff is 3.50.

As a team, they are batting .252, good for 19th in the league while putting together a .254 average at home. The Nationals hold a .430 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .327 which is good for 13th in baseball. They rank 21st in baseball with 8.51 hits per contest. Bryce Harper comes into this matchup batting .256 and he has an OBP of .399. He has 74 hits this year along with 50 runs scored and 52 RBI. He's struck out 58 times and has walked on 70 occasions. Daniel Murphy is hitting .348 and he has an OBP of .387. He has collected 117 hits so far while he's scored 53 runs and drove in 66. He has earned a walk 18 times and has punched out 38 times. The Nationals as a unit have 766 base hits, including 143 doubles and 124 homers. They have 54 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 24 times. Washington as a team has walked 323 times this year and they have struck out 684 times. They've had 615 men left on base and have an OPS of .757. They score 4.69 runs per game and have totaled 422 runs so far this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 54-34-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 45-44-0 against the run line so far this season

Washington Nationals Betting Trends

The Washington Nationals are 44-40-6 against the over/under so far this season

The Washington Nationals are 47-43-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

07/14/16 P Gerrit Cole Tricep 15-day DL (6/9); expected to be activated & start Saturday vs. Washington Nationals
07/11/16 RF Gregory Polanco Hamstring "?" Friday vs. Washington Nationals
07/11/16 2B Josh Harrison Foot "?" Friday vs. Washington Nationals
07/04/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (7/2)
07/04/16 P Jameson Taillon Shoulder 15-day DL (6/30)
06/11/16 C Francisco Cervelli Hand 15-day DL (6/10)
05/24/16 P Ryan Vogelsong Eye 60-day DL (5/24)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Washington Nationals

07/08/16 1B Ryan Zimmerman Ribs 15-day DL (7/7)
07/03/16 P Joe Ross Shoulder 15-day DL (7/3)
03/31/16 P Aaron Barrett Elbow 60-day DL (4/1)

Josh's Pick: Take the Pirates

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