Juan Nicasio (3-3, 4.34 ERA) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (20-17) meet Aaron Blair (0-2, 4.05 ERA) and the Atlanta Braves (9-28) in the second of a four-game series at PNC Park. The Pirates won the last game 8-5, and Pittsburgh leads the series 1-0. The game gets underway at 7:05 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May. 17 and will air on FSSE and RTPT.
In his last start, Nicasio pitched 6.0 innings, giving up four runs and striking out five in a 5-4 victory over the Reds. Gregory Polanco (.295, 26 Rs, 4 HRs, 19 RBIs, 5 SBs) continued his strong season yesterday, going 3 for 5 with three runs and one stolen base. The Braves were unsuccessful the last time Blair pitched. He tossed 3.2 innings, allowing four runs (one unearned), striking out two and walking two in a 7-4 loss to the Phillies. Freddie Freeman (.284, 17 Rs, 6 HRs, 10 RBIs, 1 SB) has been doing well offensively for the Braves, going 2 for 4 yesterday with two runs.
Oddsmakers have deemed this game an even matchup and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable. The Pirates have one of the most prolific offenses in the entire NL, averaging 0.0 runs per game. The Pirates have the fourth-top batting average in the league at .275. The Pirates are a nightmare on the bases for opponents with 26 steals, one of the highest totals in baseball. Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has put it all together in the past 10 games. Its average runs allowed per game dropped to 0.0 during that span, compared to its 0.0 season average.
During the last 10 games, they averaged 0.0 runs per game, above their 0.0 season average. Atlanta’s pitching staff has allowed an average of 0.0 runs per game during the last 10 games, lower than their season average of 0.0.
So far this season, the Pirates are 1-0 against the Braves.
Predictions: SU Winner – PIT
Notes
The Pirates are coming into this game after allowing two walks during their last outing. The Braves have a 3-13 record when opponents give up two walks or less.
It looks like the Pirates have a slight leg up on the Braves, as the Pirates have won their last two games while the Braves have lost their last two.
When they outhit their opponents, the Braves are 6-6. The Pirates have a 16-5 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 30th, Atlanta sits at the bottom of the league in runs, scoring 114 this season. Pittsburgh ranks in the top 10 at eighth with 179.
Ranking 25th, Atlanta is near the bottom of the league in walks, notching 105 this season. Pittsburgh ranks in the top five with 147.
The Pirates are 14-8 in games where they hit one or more home runs. The Braves are 2-7 when they hit at least one homer.
