The Pittsburgh Pirates and Toronto Blue Jays meet Friday in MLB action at Rogers Centre. Here’s a Blue Jays vs. Pirates Prediction. This article will include a Blue Jays vs. Pirates Pick.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 26-24 on the year and play the Twins and Cubs next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .253 on the season and have a .335 OBP, and a .391 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff has a 3.85 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Oneil Cruz leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 52 hits and 33 RBIs, while Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales have combined for 97 hits and 50 RBIs.
Bubba Chandler gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 1-5 with a 5.14 ERA and 36 strikeouts this season. This will be Chandler’s first career game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays are 23-27 on the year and play the Marlins and Orioles next. The Toronto Blue Jays are batting .243 on the season and have a .306 OBP, and a .370 slugging percentage. The Toronto Blue Jays’ pitching staff has a 3.92 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Ernie Clement leads the Toronto Blue Jays with 56 hits and 16 RBI while Daulton Varsho and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have combined for 98 hits and 38 RBI.
Kevin Gausman gets the ball for the Toronto Blue Jays, and he is 3-3 with a 3.45 ERA and 53 strikeouts this season. Gausman is 1-3 with a 5.54 ERA and 46 strikeouts in his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The Pirates have lost nine of their last 10 night games following a win.
- The Blue Jays have won four of their last five home games against the Pirates.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in each of their last eight games after playing the previous day.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 night games following a win.
- The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games against American League opponents.
- The Blue Jays have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last four games as home favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The Pirates have won each of their last three games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
- The road team has covered the run line in each of the Blue Jays’ last six games.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in eight of their last nine games as favorites against National League opponents following a win.
- The Pirates have won the first inning in four of their last five games against American League opponents.
- The Pirates have led after 3 innings in each of their last four games against AL East opponents.
- The Pirates have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight road games.
Total Runs Facts
- Eight of the Pirates’ last nine road games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Blue Jays’ last six home games after playing the previous day have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last six games as home favorites against National League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last seven Friday games against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Daulton Varsho has hit a home run in four of the Blue Jays’ last five games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Kevin Gausman has recorded seven or more strikeouts in three of his last four appearances with the Blue Jays as favorites against NL opponents.
- Ernie Clement has recorded at least one hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last 10 night games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Ernie Clement ranks T9th in the league in Hits (56) this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Oneil Cruz has hit a home run in each of the Pirates’ last two games against AL opponents.
- Oneil Cruz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances with the Pirates as road underdogs against AL opponents.
- Oneil Cruz is one of only two players to record 10+ Home Runs and 10+ Stolen Bases this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Blue Jays rank T29th in the league for triples this season (2).
- The Blue Jays rank 2nd in the league for strikeouts against this season (352).
- The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (441).
- The Pirates rank T4th in the league for RBIs this season (237).
Blue Jays vs Pirates Prediction
The Pirates have lost 7 of the last 8 games Chandler has pitched. He has a 5.14 ERA and 1.52 WHIP on the season, and he’s allowed 10 hits and 8 earned runs in his last 13 innings. The Blue Jays should have some confidence after stealing the last two games against the Yankees and they come back home, where they’ve played their best ball. Gausman has been solid with a 3.45 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, and he’s allowing a .220 batting average in 28.2 home innings. I’m rolling with the Jays and the somewhat reasonable price.