Cleveland Indians vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 8/18/2020 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Cleveland Indians vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: ATPT/STOh

Odds/Point Spread: Indians (-175) Pirates (+161)

Francisco Lindor and the Cleveland Indians (13-9, 2nd in AL Central) head to PNC Park on Tuesday where they'll take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (4-14, 5th in NL Central). The line on this contest has the Indians priced at -175 and the Pirates are at +161. The over/under is set at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Carlos Carrasco and JT Brubaker.

Key Cleveland Indians Injuries

8/16/2020 Franmil Reyes DH Wrist Expected to be out until at least Aug 18
8/14/2020 Roberto Perez C Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Aug 18

Key Pittsburgh Pirates Injuries

8/14/2020 Kyle Crick RP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Aug 18
8/11/2020 Joe Musgrove SP Triceps Expected to be out until at least Aug 25
8/11/2020 Mitch Keller SP Oblique Expected to be out until at least Aug 25
8/11/2020 Clay Holmes RP Forearm Expected to be out until at least Sep 21
8/9/2020 Phillip Evans 3B Jaw Expected to be out until at least Sep 21

Useful Pitching Statistics

The Indians have a 13-9 overall record this season. Carrasco (87-71 career win-loss record) is the owner of a FIP of 3.49 and he has gone up against 4,928 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. His earned run average is 3.81 (506 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.196. He has given up 1,126 hits (8.5 hits per 9 innings) and has had 305 free passes. Carrasco has thrown 1,196 innings and has earned 1,253 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.87 and they have given up 43 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .169 against the bullpen and they've struck out 73 hitters and walked 21 batters. As a team, Cleveland allows 6.6 hits per nine innings while striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.68. The Indians pitchers collectively have given up 142 base hits and 58 earned runs. They have allowed 24 home runs this season, ranking them 22nd in the league. Cleveland as a pitching staff has walked 54 batters and struck out 229. They have walked 2.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 10.6 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.01 and their FIP as a unit is 3.39.

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Hitting Statistics

As a team Cleveland is hitting .203, good for 30th in the league. The Indians hold a .330 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .312, which is good for 16th in baseball. They rank 30th in MLB with 6.5 hits per game. Francisco Lindor is hitting .233 with an on-base percentage of .281. He has 21 hits this season in 90 at bats with 13 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .422 and an OPS+ of 86. Domingo Santana is hitting .174 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .309. He has totaled 8 hits and he has driven in 5 men in 46 at bats. His OPS+ is 72 while his slugging percentage is at .326. The Indians have 142 hits, including 24 doubles and 20 home runs. Cleveland has walked 97 times so far this season and they have struck out 190 times as a unit. They have left 148 men on base and have a team OPS of .641. They score 3.77 runs per contest and have scored a total of 83 runs this year.

Useful Pitching Statistics

Brubaker (0-0) has a 3.38 earned run average while allowing 9 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.00 and he has gone up against 35 hitters. Brubaker has allowed 8 base knocks while he has accumulated 9 strikeouts in 8 innings. He has allowed 3 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.375 and having a FIP of 4.1. The bullpen has an earned run average of 5.88 and they have given up 89 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .232 against the Pirates bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 93 batters and walked 48 opposing hitters. As a team, Pittsburgh allows 8.9 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.4 batters per nine innings. They are 27th in the league in team earned run average at 5.55. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 159 base knocks and 99 earned runs this season. They have given up 27 home runs this year, which ranks 14th in Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 81 hitters and struck out 168 batters. They give up a walk 4.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.4 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.49 while their FIP as a staff is 4.97.

Hitting Statistics

As a team, they are batting .211, good for 29th in the league. The Pirates hold a .342 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .273, which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 28th in MLB with 7.1 hits per contest. Adam Frazier comes into this matchup batting .183 with an OBP of .237. He has 13 hits this year along with 5 RBI in 71 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .324 with an OPS+ of 55. Kevin Newman is hitting .246 this season and he has an OBP of .270. He has collected 15 hits in 61 at bats while driving in 6 runs. He has an OPS+ of 66 and a slugging percentage of .328. The Pirates as a unit have 128 base hits, including 20 doubles and 19 homers. Pittsburgh has walked 50 times this year and they have struck out on 154 occasions. They have had 92 men left on base and have an OPS of .615. They have scored 4.11 runs per game and totaled 74 runs this season.

Who will win tonight's Indians/Pirates MLB game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Indians (-175)

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