Houston Astros vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 4/12/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (-165) Pittsburgh (+140)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (6-4) will go up against the Houston Astros (5-6) at PNC Park on Wednesday. The odds on this game have Houston at -165 and Pittsburgh is priced at +140. The total is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers will be Jose Urquidy and Rich Hill.

As a unit, the Houston Astros are notching 5.0 runs per outing, which puts them at 10th in the league. They have earned a total of 55 runs scored and have an OBP of .336. The Astros have accumulated 15 doubles as a unit and have knocked 10 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 53 RBI's and 95 hits over the course of the season, while their batting average is sitting at .250. Houston has a slugging rate of .368 and have struck out 102 times, while taking a walk on 42 occasions.

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Astros pitchers have conceded 11 home runs in addition to 46 runs (11th in MLB). They have walked 33 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 3.89 as a unit over the course of the season. Their K/BB ratio is 3.18 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.34. The Astros have an ERA of 3.78 on the campaign (9th in the league), and they have struck out 105 batters.

The Astros relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 40.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 7 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 10 base runners for the year and 30.0% of them ended up scoring. Astros pitchers have entered the game with players on base 7 times and also have had 12 appearances in high leverage situations. The Astros have dispatched 37 relievers to the mound for the season. The bullpen have racked up 2 holds so far this season (26th in MLB). They have recorded 2 saves so far this year and have blown 3 of 5 save opportunities.

The Astros have converted 66.7% of balls hit into play into outs in their 903 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 26th in baseball. The Houston Astros have earned 301 putouts on the year, in addition to 109 assists and 3 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .993 which is 5th in baseball, and have earned 7 double plays.

Urquidy (24-13 mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.36 while he has gone up against 1,431 opposing batters in the majors. He has given up 315 base knocks (8.1 hits per nine innings) and has had 74 walks. His ERA is 3.74 (146 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.107. Urquidy has taken the hill for 351 frames and has earned 292 strikeouts during his career.

Pittsburgh has hit 12 home runs for the year to go along with 42 runs batted in. They have tallied 17 two-baggers, while taking a walk 38 times and putting up 44 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have recorded an OBP of .311 as well as a team batting average of .232 on the season. The Pirates hold a slugging % of .405 and they are earning 4.40 runs per game (19th in the league). They have struck out on 83 instances (21st in the league) and have notched a total of 76 hits.

The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.409 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.84 as a squad for the year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.13 (81 strikeouts against 38 bases on balls). They come in at 14th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 86. They have allowed 13 long balls and they allow 5.01 runs per 9 innings (19th in baseball). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have given up 49 runs so far this year while having a team ERA of 4.91 (48 earned runs relinquished).

Sitting with 16 save situations, the Pirates have 9 holds and also 0 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 6 save chances and they have tallied 6 saves. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 11 times in high leverage situations and on 9 occasions with runners on. Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 21.4% out of their 14 inherited base runners. They sit at 7th in MLB with a save rate of 100.0%, and they have sent 32 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond on the season.

In 792 innings played, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (11th in MLB). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 8 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .989 (13th in the majors). The Pirates have recorded 87 assists, 4 errors and have accounted for 264 putouts this season.

Hill (82-60 career record) holds a 3.89 earned run average while allowing 7.6 hits per nine innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.69 and he has faced 5,319 batters during his career. He has allowed a total of 548 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.230 and having a FIP of 4.0. So far in his pro baseball career, Hill has conceded 1,076 base knocks while he has tallied 1,302 punch outs in 1,268 frames.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Houston (-165)

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