Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.25 ERA) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (62-56) meet Tom Koehler (9-8, 3.86 ERA) and the Miami Marlins (62-59) in the first of a three-game series at PNC Park. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. ET on Friday, Aug. 19 and will air on FSFL and RTPT.
In his most recent outing, Cole pitched 4.1 innings, giving up six runs (one unearned) and striking out three in an 8-4 loss to the Dodgers. David Freese (.283, 53 Rs, 11 HRs, 46 RBIs) went 1 for 3 Wednesday with one run. The Marlins were victorious the last time Koehler pitched. He went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs, striking out five and walking one in a 5-4 victory over the White Sox. Giancarlo Stanton (.244, 52 Rs, 25 HRs, 70 RBIs) has been doing well offensively for the Marlins, going 3 for 5 yesterday with one run, one home run, and three RBIs.
Pittsburgh is a considerable -180 favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at eight runs. The Pirates are 33-30 as the favorite and have an overall money line of +461.
Switching gears, the Marlins come into this game with a win percentage of .516 when playing as the underdog (32-30) and an overall money line of +54. Miami is one of the top hitting teams in the NL with an average of 9.4 hits per contest. Opposing pitchers have routinely struggled to strike out the Miami batters, who rank fourth in the NL with 7.6 strikeouts per game. Switching gears to Miami’s pitching staff, they have some of the most overpowering arms in the NL with an average of 8.6 strikeouts per game.
In their previous four games this season, the Marlins have a 3-1 record. The Pirates will take on a right-hander (Koehler) in this game and have a 44-48 record against right-handed starting pitchers this season. Taking the hill against the Marlins will be the right-hander Cole. They sport a 41-50 record against righties.
Predictions: SU Winner – PIT, O/U – Over
Notes
For the 11th time this season, the Marlins registered at least two errors in a game.
The Pirates managed to give up five walks in their last game. They’ll have to pick it up against the Marlins who are coming in with a 15-7 record against opponents who give up that many walks or more.
It looks like the Pirates have a slight leg up on the Marlins, as the Pirates have won their last four games while the Marlins have lost their last three.
When they outhit their opponents, the Marlins are 51-14. The Pirates have a 39-9 record when outhitting opponents.
Ranking 21st, Miami sits near the bottom of the league in runs, scoring 516 this season. Pittsburgh ranks in the top half with 541.
Ranking 22nd, Miami is near the bottom of the league in walks, notching 344 this season. Pittsburgh ranks in the top 10 with 390.
When the Pirates hit at least one home run, they are 44-25. When the Marlins hit at least one homer, they have a 44-30 record.
