The Pittsburgh Pirates will be taking on the Washington Nationals in a Sunday showdown. This NL matchup begins at 1:35 p.m. ET and fans can catch the game on either ATPT or MAS2.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Washington Nationals Odds
Washington (-185) is a pretty solid favorite against Pittsburgh (+175) and oddsmakers have put the Over/Under for this one at 7 runs. The odds for betting on the game’s total currently sit at -120 for the under and +100 for the over. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at Pirates +1.5 runs (-125) and Nationals -1.5 runs (+105).
The Pirates have gone 7-6 SU this year and are 7-5 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 3.4 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 0.3 units ATS. Pittsburgh’s covered the spread four times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Nationals, on the other hand, are 7-6 SU and 6-6 ATS. They’ve lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 0.1 units ATS. Washington has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in five of those seven.
Nationals games have had an over/under record of 9-3 so far in 2019. The Pirates have an over/under record of 6-6.
The right-handed Jameson Taillon (0-2, 3.00 ERA) will get the ball for Pittsburgh. Taillon struck out 179 hitters over 191 innings last year (with only 46 walks) and finished the season 14-10 overall with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP.
The Nationals are rolling with righty Max Scherzer (1-2, 3.32 ERA) as their starter. Scherzer struck out 300 hitters over 220 innings last year (with only 51 walks). Scherzer finished the season 18-7 overall with a 2.53 ERA and a 0.91 WHIP.
As a unit, Washington’s pitchers have allowed 5.2 runs per game overall in 2019. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.72 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 7.71 ERA, 1.76 WHIP and 9.1 K/9.
Washington’s offense is putting up 6.2 runs per outing, including 6.6 per game over its last 10 games and 6.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .279/.333/.519 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon and right fielder Adam Eaton have led the Nationals’ hitters this year. Rendon is slashing .412/.466/.922 with six home runs, 16 RBIs and 18 runs scored, and Eaton’s line sits at .286/.365/.375 with 16 hits, five RBIs and eight runs.
In the visiting dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 3.5 runs per game and its starters own a 1.78 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 8.92 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 4.25, along with a K/9 of 11.69.
The Pirates offense has slashed .240/.319/.382 on its way to 3.6 runs scored per game in 2019, including 3.4 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 2.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
Pittsburgh’s hitters have been led by right fielder Melky Cabrera and first baseman Josh Bell. Cabrera is hitting .432/.447/.595 with 16 hits, four RBIs and four runs scored. Bell is slashing .292/.364/.583 with 14 hits, three homers, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.
The Pirates have gained 3.6 units and are 6-3 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in four of those games, compared to five that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Nationals have netted 0.2 units and are 6-5 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has hit in eight of those games, compared to three that went under the total.
Pirates vs. Nationals Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Nationals, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The over has cashed in four of Pittsburgh’s last seven outings.
- The Pirates have an OPS of .701 this season and an OPS of .738 against right-handed pitchers. The Nationals’ OPS sits at .799 overall and .787 versus righties.
- The Nationals have won three of their last four games SU.
- Pittsburgh has posted 20.6 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 18.2 over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit nine home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
