The Detroit Tigers will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The game will begin at 12:35 p.m. ET and this interleague matchup will be televised on both ATPT and FSDT.
Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Pittsburgh (-135) is the favorite against Detroit (+125) and oddsmakers have set the Over/Under for this afternoon’s game at 8 runs (+100 for the over and -120 for the under). The game’s most recent runline odds sit at -170 for betting the Tigers +1.5 runs and +150 for the Pirates -1.5.
The Tigers have gone 10-12 SU this year and are 10-10 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 1.9 units for moneyline gamblers in this young season, despite having gained 0.4 units ATS. Detroit has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the over has hit in four of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 13-11 SU and 12-10 ATS. The team’s gained 1.6 units for moneyline bettors and 3.1 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven outings and the under has cashed in three of those seven.
Pirates games have an 11-8-3 over/under record so far in 2018. Detroit has an over/under record of 9-11.
Right-hander Michael Fulmer will get the nod for the visiting Tigers. Fulmer is 1-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 13 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with three strikeouts and a 1.13 ERA against Pittsburgh this year.
The Pirates will send righty Ivan Nova (2-1, 4.20 ERA) to the mound. Nova has 25 strikeouts and four walks to his credit, as well as a WHIP of 1.10. Nova is 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA in one start against Detroit this year.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has allowed 4.7 runs per game overall this year as a unit. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.10, a WHIP of 1.25 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 5.03 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 9.3 K/9.
The Pittsburgh offense has produced 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.2 per game over its last 10 games and 4.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .269/.333/.403 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Pirates’ offense has been led by catcher Francisco Cervelli and right fielder Starling Marte. Cervelli is hitting .292/.390/.554 with three home runs, 18 RBIs and eight runs scored, and Marte’s line is .280/.368/.473 with three homers, 10 RBIs, 18 runs and seven steals.
Compared to his overall season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte enjoyed hitting against righty pitching at home last year, slashing .374/.447/.565 across 132 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Detroit’s pitchers have allowed 4.9 runs per game and its starters own a 4.13 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 6.91 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.52, along with a K-per-9 of 7.98.
Tigers hitters have slashed .258/.325/.422 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game in 2018, including 6.7 runs per game over the team’s last 10 games and 7.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (2-3 SU).
Detroit’s offense has been led by third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Candelario is slashing .290/.359/.548 with four home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 runs scored, while Cabrera is hitting .329/.416/.513 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
Compared to his total season slash line of .283/.359/.425, Candelario did not do as well hitting against righties on the road last year, putting up a slash line of .173/.218/.269 across 55 such plate appearances.
The Tigers have lost 0.1 units and are 9-8 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in six of those games, as opposed to 11 that’ve hit the under against righties. 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’s hit in seven of those games, as opposed to eight which went under the total.
Detroit Tigers at Pittsburgh Pirates Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Tigers, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Detroit has posted 29.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 29.4 over its last five.
- The Tigers have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit seven over their last 10.
