Kansas City Royals vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/14/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Kansas City Royals vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Kansas City Royals (80-67) are on their way to PNC Park on Saturday where they will play the Pittsburgh Pirates (70-76). The pitchers who are expected to start are Michael Wacha and Mitch Keller.

The Royals have accumulated 248 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 162 baseballs out of the park. Kansas City has a slugging % of .415 and have been called out on strikes 1,022 times, while drawing a walk on 379 occasions. As a squad, the Kansas City Royals are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, which is 10th in baseball. They have tallied 673 RBI's in addition to 1,249 base knocks for the year, while their average at the plate sits at .253. They have accumulated 693 runs and have an on-base percentage of .310.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.82 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.25. Royals pitchers have conceded 135 home runs and 598 runs in total (8th in MLB). Kansas City has allowed 1,199 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and also 556 earned runs. The Royals are sitting with a team earned run average of 3.87 for the year (10th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 1,190 hitters. They have walked 422 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.82 as a team this year.

The Royals relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 61.7% and has come into the game in 130 save situations. The relievers have inherited 201 runners so far this season with 29.4% of those players earned a run for their team. Royals pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 116 times in addition to having 132 appearances in high leverage situations. The Royals have sent 455 relief pitchers to the mound for the year. The relievers have a total of 68 holds so far this year (24th in MLB). They have recorded 37 saves for the year and have not converted 23 of their 60 chances to save the game.

The Royals have turned 69.5% of balls in play into outs out of their 11,643 innings on the field, which ranks them 19th in professional baseball. The Kansas City Royals are sitting with 3,881 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 1,303 assists and 73 errors. Their fielding rate sits at .986 which ranks 8th in MLB, and have a total of 118 double plays.

Wacha (100-61 mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.84 while facing 6,063 opposing batters in the majors. He has given up 1,390 hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) and has 453 walks. His earned run average is 3.90 (623 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.281. Wacha has taken the ball for 1,438 innings and has accumulated 1,275 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a team on-base percentage of .302 and a batting average of .235 this season. They have struck out on 1,340 occasions (5th in MLB) and have totaled 1,165 hits. Pittsburgh has accounted for 144 home runs for the year as well as 597 RBIs. The Pirates hold a slugging % of .372 and they average 4.24 runs per game (19th in the league). They have recorded 214 two-baggers, while walking 436 times and putting up 619 runs.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.311 in addition to having a FIP of 4.05 as a squad so far this year. They are currently ranked 25th in baseball as a staff in total hits allowed with 1,251. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have relinquished 664 runs so far this year while having an ERA of 4.13 (596 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio is 8.40 (1,219 strikeouts against 454 bases on balls). They have allowed 152 home runs and they concede 4.60 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league).

Sitting with 142 save situations, the Pirates have tallied 76 holds in addition to 28 blown saves. Pittsburgh has had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 65 save chances and they have tallied 37 saves. Their relievers have come in 154 times in high leverage situations and on 119 occasions with runners on. Pittsburgh relievers have an inherited score rate of 33.1% out of 178 inherited runners. They are ranked 27th in MLB with a save rate of 56.9%, and they have sent 454 relievers to the hill on the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 127 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in baseball). The Pirates have recorded 1,248 assists, 78 errors and have amassed 3,902 putouts for the year. Out of their 11,706 innings played, the Pirates have earned a efficiency on defense of 68.6% (23rd in professional baseball).

In his MLB career, Keller has given up 726 base hits and he has 674 K's in 686 innings. He has allowed 344 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.407 and having a FIP of 4.4. His K/BB ratio is 2.81 and he has faced 2,999 batters in his pro baseball career. Keller (36-47 career mark) is the owner of a 4.51 earned run average while surrendering 9.5 hits per nine innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Kansas City

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