In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Blue Jays prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, August 19th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 53-73 this season after they won game one by a score of 5-2 on Monday night. Pittsburgh trailed 2-1 in the third inning, but they scored the last four runs to get the win. The Pirates recorded six hits in the game and they were led by Davis, Canario, and Reynolds, who all had one RBI in the win. Pittsburgh started Skenes, who allowed five hits and two earned runs over 6.0 innings, while Sisk picked up the win and Santana got the save.
Prior to this series, the Pirates lost two out of three against the Cubs and all three against the Brewers. Pittsburgh has lost seven of their last nine games and they are currently last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 4.02 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and a .240 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 444 runs with a .232 batting average and a .303 on base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz (IL) has led Pittsburgh with 18 home runs and 51 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added 13 home runs and 62 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, who is 5-11 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP over 141.2 innings pitched this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays are 73-53 this year after they lost game one to start this series on Monday. Toronto scored both of their runs in the third inning, but went scoreless over the final six frames in the defeat. The Blue Jays recorded six hits and they committed three errors in the game, while they were led by Guerrero Jr and Bichette, who both had one RBI in the loss. Toronto started Gausman, who allowed five hits and two earned runs over 5.0 innings, while Rodriguez picked up the loss.
Prior to this series, the Blue Jays won two out of three against the Rangers and two out of three against the Cubs. Toronto has won three of their last five games and they are currently first in the AL East standings ahead of the New York Yankees. Toronto has won five of their last seven games and they are currently first in the AL East standings. The Toronto pitching staff has a 4.25 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and a .239 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 617 runs with a .268 batting average and a .338 on base percentage this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has led Toronto with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs, while Addison Barger has added 18 home runs and 59 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Toronto is Max Scherzer, who is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP over 54.0 innings pitched this year.
Why the Blue Jays will beat the Pirates
- The Blue Jays have won each of their last 11 Tuesday night games against NL Central opponents.
- The Pirates have lost seven of their last eight games after playing the previous day.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in each of their last nine Tuesday games against NL Central opponents.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in 13 of their last 15 night games against AL East opponents.
- The Blue Jays have won the first inning in each of their last three games as favorites against the Pirates at PNC Park.
- The Blue Jays have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games at PNC Park.
- The Blue Jays have led after 5 innings in seven of their last eight games as road favorites against National League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Four of the Blue Jays’ last five games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Pirates’ last five games as underdogs against the Blue Jays 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.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in seven of the Pirates’ last eight games as home underdogs against AL East opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded a Double in each of the Pirates’ last three games as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Mitch Keller has recorded a win in five of his last six appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Tommy Pham has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight appearances with the Pirates as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Mitch Keller has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last seven appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last seven home games against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Daulton Varsho has hit at least one home run in five of his last six appearances with the Blue Jays as favorites against NL opponents.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded a Double in four of the Blue Jays’ last five games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Max Scherzer has recorded a win in five of his last six appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Bo Bichette has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances with the Blue Jays as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Max Scherzer has recorded six or more strikeouts in 13 of his last 14 road appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
Pirates vs Blue Jays Prediction
Pittsburgh was able to get a much needed win to start this series on Monday, but they continue to have the least productive offense in the league. The Pirates are 35-29 at home this year, while the Blue Jays are 31-32 on the road. Toronto has lost two games in a row and they are turning to Scherzer, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three straight outings. The Pirates are going with Keller, who has allowed 6, 2, and 5 earned runs in his last three starts. Take the Jays to get back on track with a win here.