Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers Prediction, 5/17/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers

Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Location: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI

TV: Bally Sports Detroit

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+125) Detroit (-145)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (22-19) are hitting the road to Comerica Park on Wednesday where they will try to defeat the Detroit Tigers (18-21). The moneyline on this contest has the Pirates at +125 while the Tigers are at -145. The over/under comes in at 8. The starting pitchers will be Rich Hill and Eduardo Rodriguez.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are scoring 4.3 runs per outing, which is 21st in baseball. They have earned a total of 176 runs scored while having a team OBP of .323. The Pirates have hit 78 doubles as a squad and have knocked 40 baseballs out of the park. They have 167 runs batted in as well as 323 hits over the course of the season, while their average at the plate is sitting at .241. Pittsburgh has a slugging percentage of .401 and have struck out 348 times, while being walked on 155 occasions.

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They have a K/BB ratio of 2.45 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.34. Pirates pitchers have allowed 38 home runs in addition to 167 total runs (7th in MLB). Pittsburgh has conceded 341 hits (8.5 per 9 innings) and 151 earned runs. The Pirates hold a team earned run average of 3.76 over the course of the season (7th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 348 batters. They have walked 142 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 3.99 as a squad on the year.

The Pirates have sent 118 relief pitchers to the mound on the year. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 36 runners so far this season and 25.0% of those runners earned a run for their team. They have recorded 13 saves for the season and have blown 5 of their 18 save chances. The Pirates bullpen have accumulated a save rate of 72.2% and has entered the game in 44 save situations. The relievers have a total of 25 holds this season (7th in MLB). Pirates bullpen pitchers have come into the game with runners on 23 times and also have had 34 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting with 1,085 putouts this season, as well as 333 assists and 25 errors. Their fielding rate is at .983 which puts them in 25th in baseball, and have earned 34 double plays. The Pirates have turned 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 3,255 innings, which ranks them 17th in the majors.

Hill has pitched in 1,300 frames and has 1,330 K's so far in his pro baseball career. Hill (85-62 career record) has earned a FIP of 4.02 while he has gone up against 5,460 opposing hitters during his time in the majors. His ERA is 3.86 (558 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.237. He has given up 1,113 base hits (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 495 free passes.

The Detroit Tigers have accumulated a team OBP of .294 as well as a team batting average of .231 this season. They have been rung up on 355 occasions (15th in the league) and have tallied 308 hits. Detroit has accounted for 31 long balls so far this year and 136 runs batted in. The Tigers have a team slugging % of .354 and they earn 3.56 runs per outing (28th in MLB). They have put up 68 doubles, while getting a free base 111 times and putting up 139 runs.

The Detroit pitching staff have conceded 183 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 4.41 (171 earned runs surrendered). They have allowed 54 home runs and they concede 4.72 runs per 9 innings (17th in MLB). The Tigers have a WHIP of 1.221 and have a FIP of 4.68 as a staff for the season. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 7.70 (300 strikeouts vs 113 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 3rd in MLB as a staff in total hits relinquished with 313.

Detroit relievers have an inherited score rate of 39.1% out of 64 inherited base runners. Their relievers have taken the field 45 times in high leverage situations and also on 43 occasions with base runners. With 38 save situations, the Tigers have compiled 20 holds in addition to 6 blown saves. They rank 17th in MLB holding a save rate of 62.5%, and they have sent 124 relief pitchers onto the field for the season. Detroit has had relief pitchers enter the game in 16 save chances and they have converted 10 saves.

In 3,141 innings on the diamond, the Tigers have earned a defensive efficiency of 72.3% (2nd in MLB). The Detroit Tigers have gotten 27 double plays and have a fielding rate of .986 (18th in the majors). The Tigers have 342 assists, 20 errors and have earned 1,047 putouts during this campaign.

In his pro baseball career, Rodriguez has given up 949 hits while he has accumulated 1,011 K's in 999 innings pitched. He has surrendered a total of 446 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.288 and a FIP of 3.8. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.99 and he has gone up against 4,230 batters in his MLB career. Rodriguez (73-46 win-loss record in his career) has a 4.02 ERA while surrendering 8.5 hits per 9 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+125)

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