2020-09-26 19:10:00 EDT
The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cleveland Indians meet Saturday in MLB action from Progressive Field.
This will be the second installment of a three-game weekend series between the Pirates and Indians. In the opening game on Friday evening, the Indians were down big in the bottom of the ninth but stormed back for a 4-3 walk-off win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks and MLB predictions at Sports Chat Place.
The Pirates had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the ninth on Friday, but coughed up three runs to drop the game in embarrassing fashion. Gregory Polanco led the offense with a two-run homer, and starting pitcher Mitch Keller put up 5.0 innings with one earned, eight walks and three Ks.
In the starting pitcher slot on Saturday, Pittsburgh is going with Joe Musgrove. In his seven starts this year, Musgrove is 0-5 with a 4.68 ERA and 45 Ks in 32.2 innings. Over his MLB career, Musgrove is 28-38 with a 4.39 ERA and 455 Ks in 489.2 innings.
Over on the Indians’ side, Friday starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco went 6.0 innings with three hits, two earned, three walks and eight strikeouts. The Tribe put up just four hits, and Jordan Luplow had the only extra-base knock with a double, a run and an RBI.
In the starter job for the Saturday game, the Indians will roll with Aaron Civale. In his 11 starts this year, Civale is 4-5 with a 3.99 ERA and 65 Ks in 70.0 innings. Civale is 7-9 in his MLB career with a 3.24 ERA and 111 Ks in 127.2 innings.
The Pirates are 18-40 in their last 58 games as an underdog and 18-41 in the last 59 overall. Pittsburgh is 18-46 in their last 64 road games and 18-51 in the last 69 versus a team with a winning record.
Meanwhile, the Indians are 73-34 in their last 107 games as a favorite and 5-2 in their last seven Saturday games. Cleveland is 9-3 in their last 12 during game two of a series and the under is 8-1 in their last nine Saturday games.
Pick: Might as well go Pirates here. The line on this one is bound to be relatively thick everywhere, but if Pitt is going to get one, this is a good spot to take them on a value pick. Musgrove posted 11 strikeouts in six scoreless innings during his last start, and if he can bring that stuff here he’ll be alright. Civale has been shaky over his last five starts (5.10 ERA) so this is an opportunity for the Pirates.
