Pittsburgh Pirates vs Texas Rangers Prediction, 8/20/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Texas Rangers

Date: Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Location: Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX

TV: Bally Sports Southwest

The Texas Rangers (57-68) will try to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (58-65) at Globe Life Field on Tuesday. The pitchers taking the mound are Mitch Keller and Cody Bradford.

Pittsburgh has a slugging percentage of .372 and have struck out 1,144 times, while taking a walk on 371 occasions. They have earned 492 RBI's as well as 980 base knocks this year, while their batting average is sitting at .235. The Pirates have hit 179 doubles as a team and have smacked 123 balls out of the park. They have accumulated 511 runs scored while having a team OBP of .301. As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, which has them at 21st in baseball.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.71 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.29. Pirates pitchers have relinquished 130 long balls in addition to 542 runs in total (17th in baseball). Pittsburgh has allowed 1,042 hits (8.5 per 9 innings) and 485 earned runs. The Pirates have compiled a team ERA of 3.98 on the season (16th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 1,016 batters. They have walked 375 batters and their FIP sits at 4.06 as a unit on the campaign.

The Pirates relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 55.6% and has come into the game in 114 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 142 runners on the season with 32.4% of them crossed home plate. Pirates relief pitchers have come into the game with players on base 98 times as well as having 135 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have sent 376 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have a total of 59 holds over the course of the season (22nd in baseball). They have accumulated 30 saves on the season and have blown 24 of their 54 chances to get a save.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,294 putouts this season, as well as 1,060 assists and 67 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .985 which has them ranked 18th in professional baseball, and they have turned 103 double plays. The Pirates have turned 69.1% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 9,882 innings on the diamond, ranking them 23rd in baseball.

Keller has taken the hill for 664 innings and has tallied 646 strikeouts during his career. His ERA is 4.55 (336 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.409. He has surrendered 698 base knocks (9.5 hits per 9 innings) and has 238 walks. Keller (35-45 career mark) has a FIP of 4.48 while he has faced 2,901 batters in the majors.

Texas has tallied 136 home runs so far this season to go along with 508 RBIs. They have notched 165 doubles, while taking a walk 390 times and scoring 531 runs. The Texas Rangers have earned an on-base percentage of .308 and a team batting average of .239 so far this year. The Rangers have a slugging percentage of .381 and they have an average of 4.25 runs per outing (18th in MLB). They have been rung up on 970 instances (24th in MLB) and have a total of 1,011 hits.

The Rangers hold a team WHIP of 1.291 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.40 as a squad on the campaign. Their K/BB ratio is 8.50 (1,046 strikeouts vs 424 free passes). They sit at 14th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 999. They have relinquished 155 long balls and they allow 4.62 runs per 9 innings (20th in baseball). The Texas pitching staff have given up 566 runs this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.33 (530 earned runs yielded).

Texas relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 32.6% of 230 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 135 times in high leverage situations in addition to 141 occasions with runners on. With 97 save situations, the Rangers have 54 holds and 16 blown saves. They are currently ranked 19th in the league holding a save rate of 61.0%, and they have sent 370 bullpen pitchers onto the field so far this year. Texas has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 41 save opportunities and they have earned 25 saves.

In 9,918 innings on the diamond, the Rangers are sitting with a defensive efficiency of 70.9% (5th in baseball). The Texas Rangers have turned 89 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .989 (2nd in pro baseball). The Rangers have recorded 1,078 assists, 49 errors and have a tally of 3,306 putouts on the season.

During his career, Bradford has surrendered 86 base knocks while tallying 84 punch outs in 92 innings pitched. He has allowed a total of 47 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.130 and having a FIP of 4.5. His K/BB ratio is 4.67 and he has faced 379 batters during his pro baseball career. Bradford (8-3 record in his career) has a 4.60 ERA while allowing 8.4 hits per 9 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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