Pittsburgh Pirates vs Colorado Rockies Prediction, 4/17/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Colorado Rockies

Date: Monday, April 17, 2023

Location: Coors Field in Denver, CO

TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+110) Colorado (-130)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (9-6) are en route to Coors Field on Monday where they will try to defeat the Colorado Rockies (5-10). The moneyline on this contest has Pittsburgh at +110 and Colorado is at -130. The total is 11.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Rich Hill and Kyle Freeland.

Pittsburgh has a slugging percentage of .418 and have struck out 125 times, while being walked on 58 occasions. They have recorded 59 runs batted in in addition to 116 hits for the season, while their team batting average comes in at .235. The Pirates have tallied 27 doubles as a team and have hit 19 baseballs out of the stadium. They have earned 62 runs and hold an OBP of .317. As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are knocking in 4.1 runs per contest, which is 23rd in baseball.

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The Pirates have compiled a team earned run average of 4.33 so far this season (14th in the league), and their staff has rung up 125 batters. Pirates pitchers have allowed 17 home runs in addition to 66 total runs (13th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 58 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 4.50 as a squad so far this year. Pittsburgh has surrendered 129 base hits (8.7 per 9 innings) as well as 64 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.16 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.41.

The Pirates have dispatched 48 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 21 base runners for the season and 19.0% of those players crossed home plate. They have earned 7 saves on the season and have blown 1 of their 8 save opportunities. The Pirates relief pitchers have accumulated a save percentage of 87.5% and has entered the game in 21 save situations. The relievers have recorded 12 holds over the course of the season (7th in baseball). Pirates pitchers have entered the contest with runners on 13 times as well as having 17 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a total of 399 putouts on the campaign, as well as 116 assists and 6 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .988 which puts them in 12th in pro baseball, and they have twisted 10 double plays. The Pirates have turned 69.4% of balls in play into outs out of their 1,197 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 14th in pro baseball.

Hill (82-61 career mark) has a FIP of 4.03 and he has faced 5,344 hitters in the major leagues. He has conceded 1,081 base hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has 486 free passes. His ERA is 3.89 (550 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.230. Hill has taken the hill for 1,274 frames and is sitting with 1,302 punch outs thus far in his career.

The Rockies hold a team SLG% of .410 and they score 4.20 runs per contest (21st in the league). They have recorded 31 two-baggers, while walking 36 times and earning 63 runs. Colorado has knocked in 15 long balls so far this season and 59 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 130 occasions (16th in the league) and have accounted for 134 hits. The Colorado Rockies have tallied an on-base percentage of .315 in addition to a batting average of .262 this season.

The Rockies have a team WHIP of 1.473 and have a FIP of 5.01 as a staff so far this season. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.40 (120 strikeouts vs 59 walks). They are sitting at 20th in baseball as a staff in total hits given up with 131. They have yielded 20 HR's and they relinquish 6.21 runs per 9 innings (29th in the league). The Colorado pitching staff have relinquished 89 runs for the year while holding an ERA of 5.23 (75 earned runs relinquished).

With 8 save situations, the Rockies have tallied 3 holds in addition to 1 blown save. Colorado has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 4 save opportunities and they have earned 3 saves. Their relievers have taken the field 10 times in high leverage situations in addition to 14 occasions with runners on. Colorado relievers hold an inherited score rate of 48.1% out of their 27 inherited base runners. They rank 9th in MLB holding a save rate of 75.0%, and they have dispatched 44 relievers to the hill this year.

The Colorado Rockies have turned 16 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .979 (26th in pro baseball). The Rockies have racked up 134 assists, 11 errors and have notched a total of 387 putouts this season. Out of their 1,161 innings on the field, the Rockies hold a efficiency on defense of 67.8% (20th in pro baseball).

Thus far in his career, Freeland has given up 893 hits while earning 652 strikeouts in 847 innings. Freeland (51-51 career win-loss record) is the owner of a 4.20 earned run average and has given up 9.5 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 395 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.397 and having a FIP of 4.5. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.24 and he has gone up against 3,660 opposing hitters thus far in his career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+110)

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