Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Predictions, MLB Picks, Betting Tips 8/8/2020

Game: Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Saturday, August 8, 2020

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: FSDT/ATPT/FS1

Odds/Point Spread: Tigers (+108) Pirates (-118)

Colin Moran and the Pittsburgh Pirates (3-10, 5th in NL Central) play the Detroit Tigers (5-5, 4th in AL Central) at PNC Park on Saturday. The line on this contest has the Tigers priced at +108 and the Pirates are at -118. The total is set at 9. The men taking the mound will be Ivan Nova and Derek Holland.

Key Detroit Tigers Injuries

8/7/2020 Cameron Maybin LF Quadriceps Expected to be out until at least Aug 7
7/29/2020 Dario Agrazal SP Forearm Expected to be out until at least Aug 19
7/18/2020 Jordan Zimmermann SP Forearm Expected to be out until at least Sep 4

Key Pittsburgh Pirates Injuries

8/6/2020 Kyle Crick RP Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Aug 13
8/6/2020 Clay Holmes RP Forearm Expected to be out until at least Aug 20
8/6/2020 Michael Feliz RP Forearm Out for the season
8/6/2020 Nick Burdi RP Elbow Out for the season
8/2/2020 Mitch Keller SP Oblique Expected to be out until at least Aug 12
8/2/2020 Keone Kela RP Undisclosed Expected to be out until at least Aug 7
7/23/2020 Luke Maile C Finger Out for the season
6/30/2020 Chris Archer SP Shoulder Out for the season
6/30/2020 Kevin Kramer RF Hip Out for the season
2/13/2020 Jameson Taillon SP Elbow Out for the season

Useful Pitching Statistics

The Tigers have a 5-5 overall record this season. Nova (89-76 record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.51 while facing 5,736 batters in the major leagues. His ERA is 4.32 (643 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.356. He has given up 1,452 base knocks (9.8 hits per 9 innings) with 363 walks. Nova has thrown 1,338 frames and has 959 K's so far in his career. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.30 and they have given up 35 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .193 against the bullpen and they've struck out 40 hitters and walked 12 batters. As a team, Detroit allows 8.7 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.8 batters per nine innings. They are 26th in the league in team earned run average at 5.08. The Tigers pitchers collectively have given up 82 base hits and 48 earned runs. They have allowed 14 home runs this season, ranking them 16th in the league. Detroit as a pitching staff has walked 28 batters and struck out 74. They have walked 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 7.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.29 and their FIP as a unit is 4.70.

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Hitting Statistics

As a team Detroit is hitting .205, good for 27th in the league. The Tigers hold a .396 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .273, which is good for 28th in baseball. They rank 28th in MLB with 6.2 hits per game. JaCoby Jones is hitting .379 with an on-base percentage of .419. He has 11 hits this season in 29 at bats with 7 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .793 and an OPS+ of 235. Jonathan Schoop is hitting .250 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .256. He has totaled 9 hits and he has driven in 7 men in 36 at bats. His OPS+ is 108 while his slugging percentage is at .500. The Tigers have 62 hits, including 9 doubles and 15 home runs. Detroit has walked 25 times so far this season and they have struck out 102 times as a unit. They have left 50 men on base and have a team OPS of .669. They score 3.8 runs per contest and have scored a total of 38 runs this year.

Useful Pitching Statistics

In his career, Holland has given up 1,395 base knocks while he has earned 1,155 K's in 1,387 frames. He has allowed 700 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.368 and a FIP of 4.6. His SO/W ratio is 2.30 and he has gone up against 5,955 opposing hitters so far in his MLB career. Holland (78-78 career record) has a 4.54 ERA while surrendering 9.1 hits per nine innings. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.37 and they have given up 55 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .212 against the Pirates bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 57 batters and walked 36 opposing hitters. As a team, Pittsburgh allows 7.8 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.5 batters per nine innings. They are 18th in the league in team earned run average at 4.47. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 100 base knocks and 57 earned runs this season. They have given up 15 home runs this year, which ranks 14th in Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 65 hitters and struck out 108 batters. They give up a walk 5.1 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.5 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.44 while their FIP as a staff is 4.76.

Hitting Statistics

As a team, they are batting .191, good for 30th in the league. The Pirates hold a .312 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .255, which is good for 30th in baseball. They rank 27th in MLB with 6.2 hits per contest. Colin Moran comes into this matchup batting .244 with an OBP of .292. He has 11 hits this year along with 7 RBI in 45 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .600 with an OPS+ of 146. Phillip Evans is hitting .344 this season and he has an OBP of .432. He has collected 11 hits in 32 at bats while driving in 5 runs. He has an OPS+ of 141 and a slugging percentage of .406. The Pirates as a unit have 81 base hits, including 13 doubles and 12 homers. Pittsburgh has walked 35 times this year and they have struck out on 113 occasions. They have had 62 men left on base and have an OPS of .567. They have scored 3.46 runs per game and totaled 45 runs this season.

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

Josh's Pick: Take the Tigers (+108)

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