In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Guardians prediction for this MLB game on Sunday, April 20th 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 8-14 this year and they have lost the first two games in this series by scores of 10-7 and 3-0. In the game two loss, the Pirates were shutdown by the Cleveland pitching staff and couldn’t find any offense in the shutout loss. The Pirates recorded six hits in the game and they were led by Valdez and Cruz, who both had one walk and one hit in the loss. Pittsburgh started Skenes, who allowed six hits and two earned runs over 7.0 innings in the loss, while Ferguson allowed one hit and one earned run in one inning out of the bullpen.
Prior to this series, the Pirates won three out of four against the Nationals, but did lose all three against the Reds before that. Pittsburgh has lost three of their last five games and they are currently last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 4.06 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP and a .236 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 74 runs with a .202 batting average and a .286 on base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with five home runs and 11 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added three home runs and 10 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, who is 1-2 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP over 23.0 innings pitched this year.
Cleveland Guardians Betting Preview
The Cleveland Guardians are 11-9 this season after they won game two in this series by a score of 3-0. Cleveland scored one run in the third, seventh, and eighth for the shutout victory. The Guardians recorded nine hits in the game and they were led by Kwan, Ramirez, and Manzardo, who all had one RBI in the win. Cleveland started Lively, who allowed four hits and zero earned runs over 5.1 innings in the win, while Smith, Herrin, Gaddis, and Clase completed the shutout.
Prior to this series, the Guardians lost two out of three against the Orioles, but did win two out of three against the Royals before that. Cleveland has won three of their last five games and they are currently second in the AL Central standings. The Cleveland pitching staff has a 4.01 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and a .248 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 81 runs with a .239 batting average and a .312 on base percentage this season. Kyle Manzardo has led Cleveland with five home runs and 13 RBIs, while Steven Kwan has added three home runs and 12 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Cleveland is Logan Allen, who is 1-1 with a 2.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP over 15.2 innings pitched this season.
Why the Pirates will beat the Guardians
- The Guardians have lost six of their last seven road games following a win.
- The Pirates have won four of their last five games at PNC Park following a loss.
- The Guardians have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as underdogs after playing the previous day.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in four of their last five home games following a loss.
- The Pirates have led after 5 innings in nine of their last 11 games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Guardians have lost the first inning in three of their last four road games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
Why the Guardians will beat the Pirates
- The Pirates have lost four of their last five games as home favorites against AL Central opponents.
- The Guardians have won each of their last three games as underdogs against the Pirates.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 14 games as favorites against American League opponents following a home loss.
- The Guardians have covered the run line in seven of their last eight games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Pirates have lost the first inning in seven of their last eight Sunday games against American League opponents.
- The Guardians have led after 3 innings in eight of their last nine day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- The Guardians have led after 5 innings in each of their last nine road games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Guardians’ last six day games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Pirates’ last four day games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Guardians’ last six day games at PNC Park.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last eight Sunday games against American League opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Oneil Cruz has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last four games.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one Double in four of the Pirates’ last five games as home favorites against AL Central opponents.
- Adam Frazier has scored at least one run in six of his last seven appearances at PNC Park against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in six of the Pirates’ last seven games as favorites against AL Central opponents.
- Mitch Keller has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last five appearances against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine appearances with his team as a favorite against AL opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last 15 home games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
Cleveland Guardians Player Prop Facts
- Austin Hedges has hit a home run in each of his last two road appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Nolan Jones has recorded a Double in each of his last three appearances with his team as an underdog against NL Central opponents.
- Steven Kwan has recorded two or more hits in each of the Guardians’ last four road games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jose Ramirez has scored at least one run in five of his last six road appearances against the Pirates after playing the previous day.
- Steven Kwan has recorded at least one Single in each of his last 11 Sunday appearances with the Guardians as underdogs.
Pirates vs Guardians Prediction
Cleveland comes into this matchup looking to complete the sweep in this series, as they have won the first two games by three runs each. The Guardians are 6-8 on the road this year, while the Pirates are 6-6 at home. Pittsburgh has scored one run or fewer in three of their last five games, so the offense has really let them down so far this year. The Pirates weren’t able to get a win with Skenes on the mound on Saturday, so they will turn to Mitch Keller, who has pitched well in three of his four starts so far. Cleveland is starting Logan Allen, who has allowed zero earned runs over his last two starts (10.1 IP). Take the under here.