Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 4/1/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals

Date: Monday, April 1, 2024

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

Nationals Park is where the Washington Nationals (71-91 last season) will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (76-86 last year) on Monday. The pitchers taking the mound will be Marco Gonzales and MacKenzie Gore.

The Pirates hit 287 two-baggers as a unit and smacked 159 balls out of the park. Pittsburgh had a slugging percentage of .392 and were called out on strikes 1,464 times, while taking a walk on 556 occasions. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates earned 4.3 runs per game, which had them sitting at 22nd in the league. They had 662 RBI's in addition to 1,293 hits in the previous season, while their team batting average was .239. They earned 692 runs and held an OBP of .315.

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Their K/BB ratio was 2.29 and their pitching staff recorded a WHIP of 1.38. Pirates pitchers allowed 179 long balls in addition to 790 runs in total (22nd in baseball). Pittsburgh surrendered 1,380 base knocks (8.7 per 9 innings) as well as 731 earned runs. The Pirates finished with a team earned run average of 4.60 during the previous year (22nd in MLB), and the staff struck out 1,363 batters. They walked 596 opposing batters and their FIP finished at 4.40 as a team for the previous season.

The Pirates relief pitchers earned a save percentage of 69.1% and stepped onto the hill in 160 save situations. The relief pitchers inherited 231 base runners in the previous season with 33.8% of them earned a run for their team. Pirates relief pitchers entered the game with runners on base 156 times in addition to having 170 games in high leverage situations. The Pirates dispatched 529 relievers to the mound over the course of the prior season. The relief pitchers finished with 88 holds in the previous season (13th in the league). They earned 47 saves last season and missed out on 21 of their 68 save opportunities.

The Pittsburgh Pirates had 4,290 putouts last year, in addition to 1,403 assists and 91 errors. Their fielding percentage finished at .984 which put them in 20th in MLB, and they twisted 135 double plays. The Pirates transformed 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,870 innings on the diamond, which had them sitting at 18th in MLB.

Gonzales has taken the ball for 893 innings and has tallied 665 strikeouts during his MLB career. Gonzales (65-49 career win-loss mark) has earned a FIP of 4.40 while going up against 3,769 opposing hitters in the majors. His earned run average is 4.14 (411 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.289. He has surrendered 913 hits (9.2 hits per nine innings) and has 238 walks.

The Washington Nationals tallied an on-base percentage of .314 and a team batting average of .254 over the course of last season. They were called out on strikes on 1,149 occasions (29th in the league) and totaled 1,401 base hits. Washington was sitting with 151 long balls during the previous year in addition to 665 RBIs. The Nationals had a team slugging percentage of .396 and they had an average of 4.32 runs per outing (21st in the league). They put up 279 two-baggers, while walking 423 times and recording 700 runs.

The Nationals finished with a team WHIP of 1.473 and had a FIP of 5.15 as a pitching staff over the course of last season. They finished at 28th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 1,512. The Washington pitching staff given up 845 runs last season while having an ERA of 5.02 (797 earned runs surrendered). They had a K/BB ratio of 7.70 (1,225 strikeouts vs 592 walks). They gave up 245 home runs and they yielded 5.33 runs per 9 innings (27th in MLB).

Washington called on relievers to step onto the mound in 69 save chances and they earned 42 saves. They were ranked 18th in MLB holding a save rate of 60.9%, and they sent 526 bullpen pitchers onto the field last year. Their relief pitchers took the field 162 times in high leverage situations and on 156 occasions with runners on base. Washington relievers had an inherited score percentage of 34.3% out of 248 inherited base runners. With 144 save situations, the Nationals accumulated 75 holds and 27 blown saves.

The Washington Nationals had 158 double plays and held a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in professional baseball). The Nationals accrued 1,505 assists, 90 errors and had a total of 4,285 putouts for the prior year. In their 12,855 innings played, the Nationals finished with a defensive efficiency of 68.2% (24th in professional baseball).

During his pro baseball career, Gore has allowed 200 base hits while he has totaled 223 strikeouts in 206 frames. Gore (11-14 career win-loss mark) has earned a 4.45 earned run average and has allowed 8.7 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 102 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.425 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.37 and he has faced 891 opposing batters during his pro baseball career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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