The Detroit Tigers are paying a visit to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates at PNC Park. This interleague matchup gets going at 7:05 p.m. ET and you can watch it on ATPT and FSDT.
Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas is listing Pittsburgh (-155) as the favorite over Detroit (+145). The total is sitting at 8.5 runs and gamblers can wager on the over for -115 and the under for -105. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the most recent runline odds sitting at Tigers +1.5 runs (-150) and Pirates +-1.5 runs (+130).
The Tigers are 9-11 SU and are 10-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 1.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline through the early portions of the year, despite having gained 0.4 units ATS. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 12-10 SU and 12-10 ATS. They’ve gained 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 3.1 units ATS.
Pittsburgh games have had an over/under record of 11-8-3 thus far in 2018. The Tigers have an over/under record of 9-11.
Jordan Zimmermann will get the nod for Detroit. The right-handed Zimmermann is 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 6.00 ERA against Pittsburgh this year.
The Pirates will put the ball in the right hand of Chad Kuhl (2-1, 4.57 ERA, 1.62 WHIP), who’s got 17 strikeouts and seven walks. Kuhl is 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 6.35 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.80 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 6.75 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.30, along with a WHIP of 1.25.
Tigers hitters have slashed .249/.319/.396 on their way to 4.7 runs scored per game this season, including 5.5 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Detroit’s offensive production been powered by third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Candelario is slashing .277/.355/.494 with three home runs, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored, while Cabrera has a .300 average with two homers, 14 RBIs and nine runs scored.
Candelario did not seem to enjoy hitting against righties on the road last year. Over 55 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .173/.218/.269 (his overall season line was .283/.359/.425).
In the home-team dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have an ERA of 3.69, a WHIP of 1.21 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 6.9. The bullpen has a 5.23 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 9.2 K/9.
Pittsburgh’s offense is putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 2.7 per game over its last 10 games and 3.0 per game over its last five. The team has hit .211/.270/.327 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Right fielder Starling Marte and catcher Francisco Cervelli have paced the Pirates’ offense so far. Marte is slashing .274/.365/.476 with 23 hits, eight RBIs, 16 runs and seven steals, and Cervelli’s line sits at .262/.361/.475 with 16 hits, 12 RBIs and seven runs.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte enjoyed batting against righties at home in 2017, slashing .374/.447/.565 over 132 such plate appearances.
The Tigers have lost 0.1 units and are 9-8 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in six of those games, compared to 11 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 2.0 units and are 10-8 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in seven of those games, compared to eight that’ve gone under.
Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The over has cashed in just one of Pittsburgh’s last seven games.
The Pirates have lost six of their last seven games SU.
Detroit has posted 25.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 28.2 over its last five.
The Tigers have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit five over their last 10.
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