The Pittsburgh Pirates will head south to take on the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. The game gets underway 7:10 p.m. ET and Fox SportsNet Florida will televise this NL matchup.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins Odds
Pittsburgh (-125) is favored over Miami (+115) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this night game at nine runs (-115 for the over and -105 for the under). Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at +120 for the Pirates -1.5 runs and -140 for the Marlins +1.5.
The Pirates have gone 9-3 SU this year and are 7-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 5.0 units for moneyline bettors this year and 4.0 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven. The Marlins are 3-9 SU and 3-9 ATS. They’ve lost 3.6 units for moneyline bettors and 7.2 units ATS. Miami has covered the spread only once in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven.
Marlins games have an over/under record of 6-6 so far in 2018. The Pirates have an over/under record of 8-3.
The Pirates have gained 0.0 units and are 1-1 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in two of those games, compared to zero that’ve gone under against righties. On the other hand, the Marlins have lost 2.5 units and are 2-6 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in four of those games, as opposed to four that’ve cashed the under.
Right-hander Chad Kuhl (1-0, 5.06 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Pirates. Kuhl recorded 142 strikeouts across 157 innings last year (31 starts) but finished the season 8-11 overall with a 4.35 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.
The Marlins will be turning to lefty Dillon Peters (1-1, 9.35 ERA), who started 6 games last year and finished the season 1-2 overall with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP.
Miami’s pitching staff has allowed 6.2 runs per game overall this year as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.81, a WHIP of 1.55 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.82 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 8.8 K/9.
The Miami offense has put up 3.3 runs per outing, including 3.3 per game over its last 10 games and 3.2 per game over its last five. The team has slashed .210/.281/.315 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Third baseman Brian Anderson and left fielder Derek Dietrich have led the Marlins’ offense so far. Anderson is hitting .295/.436/.455 with 13 hits, nine RBIs and eight runs scored, while Dietrich’s line is .302/.373/.415 with 16 hits, four RBIs and six runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .262/.337/.369, Anderson enjoyed batting against righty pitching at home last year, slashing .303/.425/.455 over 40 such plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.36 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 7.36 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 6.97, along with a K-per-9 of 7.19.
The Pirates offense has slashed .278/.356/.479 on its way to 6.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including 6.3 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Outfielders Gregory Polanco and Corey Dickerson have led Pittsburgh’s offense. Polanco is slashing .262/.385/.714 with 11 hits, five homers, 15 RBIs and 11 runs scored, while Dickerson (.341/.386/.610) is up to 14 hits, nine RBIs and nine runs scored.
Polanco did not do as well hitting against lefty pitching on the road last season. Across 38 such plate appearances, he maintained a slash line of .194/.237/.250 (his overall season line was .251/.305/.391).
Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Trends
The Pirates have won three of their last four games SU while the Marlins have lost seven of their last eight SU.
Miami has recorded 18.3 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 16.8 over its last five.
The Pirates have hit 16 home runs in their last 10 games, including 10 over their last five.
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