Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/14/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Washington Nationals vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Thursday, September 14, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PNC Park is the location where the Pittsburgh Pirates (67-78) will take on the Washington Nationals (65-80) on Thursday. The expected starting pitchers will be Josiah Gray and Mitch Keller.

As a team, the Washington Nationals are recording 4.3 runs per contest, which puts them at 21st in baseball. They have 625 runs and have an on-base percentage of .315. The Nationals have accrued 246 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 133 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accrued 593 RBI's and 1,261 hits on the campaign, and their average at the plate comes in at .255. Washington has a slugging percentage of .395 and have been rung up 1,023 times, while taking a walk on 374 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.06 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.46. Nationals pitchers have surrendered 221 home runs in addition to 754 runs in total (27th in baseball). Washington has conceded 1,342 base knocks (9.4 per 9 innings) as well as 707 earned runs. The Nationals hold a team ERA of 4.97 this year (27th in the league), and they have struck out 1,092 batters. They have walked 529 opposing players and their FIP comes in at 5.17 as a squad for the year.

The Nationals have dispatched 465 relievers to the hill on the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 214 base runners for the year with 35.0% of them crossed home plate. They have recorded 39 saves for the year and have missed out on 26 of their 65 save opportunities. The Nationals bullpen have earned a save rate of 60.0% and stepped onto the hill in 136 save situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 71 holds for the season (20th in the league). Nationals bullpen pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 135 times in addition to having 149 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Nationals have turned 68.5% of balls in play into outs out of their 11,523 innings on the diamond, ranking them 19th in pro baseball. The Washington Nationals have accounted for 3,841 putouts this year, in addition to 1,353 assists and 79 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .985 which ranks 18th in the majors, and have accumulated 141 double plays.

Gray (16-23 win-loss mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 5.57 while going up against 1,583 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has allowed 336 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) with 174 walks. His earned run average is 4.76 (191 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.413. Gray has pitched in 361 innings and is sitting with 352 punch outs so far in his career.

The Pirates have a SLG% of .389 and they have an average of 4.19 runs per game (24th in MLB). They have put up 256 two-baggers, while getting a free base 503 times and earning 608 runs. Pittsburgh has tallied 141 home runs over the course of the season to go along with 583 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 1,277 occasions (11th in the league) and have tallied 1,140 base hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accounted for a team OBP of .313 as well as a batting average of .237 over the course of the season.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.379 in addition to having a FIP of 4.34 as a pitching staff this year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,217 strikeouts vs 526 bases on balls). They rank 20th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 1,238. They have allowed 155 homers and they concede 4.91 runs per 9 innings (21st in the league). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have conceded 698 runs on the campaign and come in with a team ERA of 4.51 (641 earned runs surrendered).

Pittsburgh relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 33.3% out of their 213 inherited base runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 146 times in high leverage situations in addition to 142 occasions with runners on. With 134 save situations, the Pirates have earned 74 holds and 17 blown saves. They rank 5th in baseball with a save percentage of 70.2%, and they have dispatched 464 relievers onto the field so far this year. Pittsburgh has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 57 save opportunities and they have come away with 40 saves.

In 11,517 innings played, the Pirates hold a defensive efficiency of 68.5% (20th in professional baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 120 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .984 (22nd in pro baseball). The Pirates have 1,230 assists, 81 errors and have notched a total of 3,839 putouts so far this season.

So far in his career, Keller has given up 547 base hits while he has earned 502 punch outs in 504 innings pitched. He has allowed 265 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.470 and having a FIP of 4.0. His K/BB ratio is 2.59 and he has gone up against 2,220 opposing hitters so far in his career. Keller (23-38 career record) is the owner of a 4.73 ERA while giving up 9.8 hits per 9 innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Washington

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