Pittsburgh Pirates vs Philadelphia Phillies Prediction, 9/28/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Philadelphia Phillies

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Location: Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Citizens Bank Park is where the Philadelphia Phillies (88-69) will compete against the Pittsburgh Pirates (74-83) on Thursday. The expected starting pitchers will be Luis Ortiz and Zack Wheeler.

The Pirates have hit 275 doubles as a team and have hit 159 baseballs out of the stadium. Pittsburgh is slugging .393 and have been called out on strikes 1,409 times, while drawing a walk on 540 occasions. As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are compiling 4.3 runs per outing, which ranks them 21st in MLB. They have compiled 649 RBI's and 1,246 base knocks so far this year, and their average at the plate sits at .238. They are sitting with 674 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .314.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.26 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.39. Pirates pitchers have given up 174 home runs and 770 runs in total (22nd in baseball). Pittsburgh has allowed 1,340 base hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and 711 earned runs. The Pirates have an earned run average of 4.62 on the season (22nd in the league), and the staff has struck out 1,320 batters. They have walked 583 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 4.42 as a squad for the season.

The Pirates relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 69.2% and has come into the game in 152 save situations. The relievers have inherited 226 runners for the season and 33.2% of those runners ended up crossing the plate. Pirates bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 153 times as well as having 163 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have dispatched 509 relievers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have earned 83 holds so far this year (14th in baseball). They have recorded 45 saves for the year and have blown 20 out of their 65 chances to get a save.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a total of 4,158 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 1,356 assists and 87 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .984 which puts them in 20th in MLB, and they have turned 129 double plays. The Pirates have turned 68.6% of balls in play into outs in their 12,474 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 19th in baseball.

Ortiz has taken the hill for 97 innings and is sitting with 72 punch outs thus far in his career. His ERA is 4.88 (53 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.628. He has conceded 103 base knocks (9.5 hits per 9 innings) and has had 56 free passes. Ortiz (4-7 career record) holds a FIP of 5.27 and he has gone up against 448 batters in the majors.

The Philadelphia Phillies are sitting with a team OBP of .328 and a batting average of .256 for the season. They have struck out on 1,432 occasions (9th in baseball) and have 1,377 base hits. Philadelphia has compiled 213 HRs this season and 747 runs batted in. The Phillies have a team slugging percentage of .438 and they have an average of 4.91 runs per game (8th in the league). They have tallied 283 doubles, while taking a walk 525 times as well as racking up 771 runs.

The Phillies are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.241 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.01 as a team on the season. They come in at 9th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,279. The Philadelphia pitching staff have yielded 690 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 4.00 (622 earned runs relinquished). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 9.00 (1,405 strikeouts against 457 walks). They have conceded 180 long balls and they give up 4.44 runs per 9 innings (13th in MLB).

Sitting with 154 save situations, the Phillies have compiled 84 holds in addition to 26 blown saves. Philadelphia has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 70 save opportunities and they have come away with 44 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 176 times in high leverage situations and on 128 occasions with base runners. Philadelphia relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 34.6% of 179 inherited runners. They are ranked 15th in the league with a save rate of 62.9%, and they have dispatched 505 bullpen pitchers onto the field this season.

The Philadelphia Phillies have turned 113 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .984 (21st in pro baseball). The Phillies have accrued 1,347 assists, 88 errors and have accounted for 4,198 putouts for the year. In their 12,594 innings on the diamond, the Phillies are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 69.5% (13th in the majors).

In his MLB career, Wheeler has allowed 1,225 hits while earning 1,396 punch outs in 1,374 innings pitched. Wheeler (87-63 win-loss mark in his career) holds a 3.45 ERA while surrendering 8.0 hits per nine innings. He has conceded a total of 527 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.185 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.4. His K/BB ratio is 3.46 and he has faced 5,697 hitters so far in his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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