Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 4/29/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals

Date: Saturday, April 29, 2023

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (-120) Washington (+100)

The Washington Nationals (9-15) will try to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-8) at Nationals Park on Saturday. The odds on this game have the Pirates at -120 while the Nationals are opening at +100. The over/under is set at 9.5. The starting pitchers are Vince Velasquez and Patrick Corbin.

As a unit, the Pittsburgh Pirates are compiling 5.1 runs/g, which is 9th in the league. They have tallied 132 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .334. The Pirates have recorded 52 doubles as a squad and have hit 30 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 125 runs batted in in addition to 223 hits on the campaign, and their average at the plate sits at .258. Pittsburgh is slugging .438 and have struck out 206 times, while being walked on 96 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.49 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.30. Pirates pitchers have given up 22 home runs in addition to 97 runs in total (8th in the league). Pittsburgh has allowed 208 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and 93 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team earned run average of 3.60 so far this year (8th in baseball), and they have rung up 232 batters. They have walked 93 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 3.85 as a squad for the season.

Pirates relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 17 times as well as having 29 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have notched 23 holds for the year (4th in baseball). The Pirates relievers have earned a save percentage of 80.0% and has entered the game in 39 save situations. They have accumulated 12 saves on the season and have blown 3 of their 15 chances to save the game. The relievers have inherited 27 base runners this year and 22.2% of them crossed home plate. The Pirates have dispatched 78 relief pitchers to the hill on the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have accounted for 698 putouts this year, as well as 202 assists and 17 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .981 which ranks 26th in MLB, and have accumulated 18 double plays. The Pirates have converted 69.3% of baseballs in play into outs out of 2,094 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 16th in baseball.

Velasquez has taken the hill for 752 frames and has earned 812 punch outs in his career. Velasquez (37-49 career record) sits with a FIP of 4.51 and he has gone up against 3,246 opposing hitters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 4.89 (409 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.371. He has conceded 727 base hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) and has 305 free passes.

Washington has compiled 14 home runs on the campaign and 89 RBIs. They have tallied 31 doubles, while walking 76 times as well as notching 93 runs. The Washington Nationals have recorded an on-base percentage of .320 as well as a batting average of .248 so far this year. The Nationals hold a team slugging % of .345 and they are recording 3.88 runs per contest (23rd in the league). They have struck out on 170 occasions (30th in the league) and have 203 hits.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.352 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.58 as a pitching staff on the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 7.70 (180 strikeouts against 83 bases on balls). They sit at 11th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 201. They have given up 27 homers and they allow 4.54 runs per 9 innings (16th in MLB). The Washington pitching staff have allowed 106 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 4.16 (97 earned runs yielded).

With 24 save situations, the Nationals have recorded 13 holds in addition to 4 blown saves. Washington has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 11 save chances and they have earned 7 saves. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 21 times in high leverage situations and on 21 occasions with runners on base. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 25.7% out of 35 inherited base runners. They sit at 15th in MLB holding a save rate of 63.6%, and they have sent 74 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season.

The Washington Nationals have turned 27 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .981 (28th in pro baseball). The Nationals have recorded 232 assists, 17 errors and have accounted for 630 putouts on the campaign. In their 1,890 innings played, the Nationals are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 69.1% (17th in MLB).

Corbin (88-106 career win-loss mark) is the owner of a 4.33 ERA and has conceded 9.4 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.12 and he has faced 6,716 opposing batters so far in his pro baseball career. He has surrendered a total of 753 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.351 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. In his MLB career, Corbin has given up 1,636 hits while accumulating 1,485 punch outs in 1,563 innings pitched.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (-120)

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