The Pittsburgh Pirates will head west to Miller Park to face their division rival Milwaukee Brewers. Fox Sports Net Wisconsin will broadcast the matchup and the first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Milwaukee Brewers Odds
Oddsmakers have listed Milwaukee (-125) as the favorite over Pittsburgh (+115). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can take either the over or the under for -110. You can also bet on the game’s spread with the current runline odds standing at Pirates +1.5 runs (-180) and Brewers -1.5 runs (+160).
The Brewers are 71-58 straight up (SU) and 66-63 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 9.2 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 2.3 units (ATS). The Pirates have gone 63-65 SU this year and are 61-67 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 2.9 units for moneyline gamblers and 10.3 units ATS.
Milwaukee games have an over/under record of 60-65-4 in 2018. The Pirates have an over/under record of 58-62-8.
The right-handed Joe Musgrove will get the nod for Pittsburgh. Musgrove (5-7, 3.31 ERA) has recorded 69 strikeouts in 87 innings so far. He’s 0-0 with five strikeouts and a 5.87 ERA against Milwaukee this year.
The Brewers will put the ball in the left hand of Wade Miley (2-2, 2.18 ERA, 1.21 WHIP), who’s got 29 strikeouts and 20 walks. Miley is 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in one start against Pittsburgh this year.
Milwaukee’s pitchers have given up 4.2 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have a 3.93 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.8 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 3.76 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 10.1 K/9. In 52 divisional games, Brewers starters have an ERA of 3.56 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.31.
The Milwaukee offense has put up 4.4 runs per contest, including 3.2 per game against divisional foes and 4.0 per game over its last five. The team’s hit .300/.367/.488 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Brewers’ offense has been led by outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. Yelich is hitting .314/.378/.532 with 21 home runs, 64 RBIs, 87 runs and 14 stolen bases, and Cain’s line is .307/.398/.424 with nine homers, 32 RBIs, 65 runs and 24 stolen bases.
For the visiting squad, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.07 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 7.19 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.12, along with a K-per-9 of 9.58.
Pirates hitters have slashed .253/.321/.409 on their way to 4.4 runs scored per game this year, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 1.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte continue to lead Pittsburgh’s offense. Dickerson is slashing .304/.335/.476 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 53 runs scored. Marte (.271/.315/.457) has produced 17 homers, 57 RBIs, 63 runs and 28 stolen bases.
The Pirates have lost 6.8 units and are 16-22 ATS when facing a lefty starter this season. The over has cashed in 22 of those games, compared to 15 that’ve gone under against left-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Brewers have netted 13.7 units and are 52-45 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 40 of those games, as opposed to 53 that’ve gone under.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Brewers, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
