The Toronto Blue Jays and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Wednesday in MLB action from PNC Park. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Pirates vs Blue Jays Prediction.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The Toronto Blue Jays will send out Chris Bassitt for the start here and Bassitt is 11-6 with a 4.22 ERA and 132 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Pirates, Bassitt is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Johan Oviedo will start for the Pirates here and is 0-0 with an 18.00 ERA and 3 strikeouts this season. In his career, Oviedo is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA and 7 strikeouts against Toronto.
Toronto Blue Jays Recap
The Toronto Blue Jays come into this game looking to add on to their 7-3 win over the Pirates on Tuesday to improve to 74-53 this season. After this series, the Blue Jays will head on the road for a series against the Miami Marlins.
Blue Jays Win 6 Of Their Last 9
George Springer has 102 hits and Bo Bichette has 153 hits with Springer adding 19 home runs, a triple, 18 doubles and 59 RBIs while Bichette has 37 doubles, 16 home runs and 81 RBIs. Andres Gimenez has added 50 hits with 7 doubles and 5 home runs and 23 RBIs this season along with 10 stolen bases. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also has 21 homers, 30 doubles and 68 RBIs while Springer also has a .290 batting average and 78 strikeouts up to this point in the year. Addison Barger’s chipped in 25 doubles with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs and Ernie Clement’s added 24 doubles as part of his 122 hits this season.
Why the Toronto Blue Jays will win
- The favorites have won each of the Blue Jays’ last eight games at PNC Park.
- The Pirates have lost eight of their last nine games after playing the previous day.
- The Blue Jays have covered the run line in each of their last nine Wednesday road games against National League opponents.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in six of their last seven games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Daulton Varsho has recorded a Double in four of his last five appearances with the Blue Jays as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
- 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.
- Chris Bassitt has recorded five or more strikeouts in nine of his last 10 appearances with the Blue Jays as favorites against NL opponents.
- Chris Bassitt has recorded a win in nine of his last 10 appearances with his team as a road favorite against NL opponents .
- Anthony Santander has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 appearances in day games against NL teams that held a losing record.
- Bo Bichette ranks 1st in the league in Hits (155) this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Recap
The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this game looking to rebound from a loss to Toronto in Tuesday’s matchup to drop to 53-74 this season. After this set, the Pittsburgh Pirates will head out on the road for a game series against the Colorado Rockies.
Pirates Drop 8 Of Last 10
Bryan Reynolds has 13 hits with 27 doubles, 13 home runs and 61 RBIs while also posting 136 strikeouts so far this season. Oneil Cruz has posted a team-high 18 home runs and 51 RBIs with 34 stolen bases while Isiah Kiner-Falefa has 97 hits with 17 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Cruz also has a team-high 145 strikeouts as well this season. Tommy Pham has 12 doubles and Andrew McCutchen has 91 hits with 17 doubles as well this season.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Pirates have won five of their last six games as home underdogs following a home loss.
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last four Wednesday games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last eight Wednesday games against American League opponents.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five Wednesday games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last eight home games against AL East opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded a Double in each of the Pirates’ last four games as underdogs against AL opponents.
- Johan Oviedo has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last nine appearances against opponents 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.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Blue Jays’ last four games as road favorites have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Pirates’ last four games as underdogs against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
Pirates vs Blue Jays Prediction
I’m backing the Blue Jays here. I haven’t been the biggest fan of Chris Bassitt on the road this season, but I do think he’s the more trustworthy option here compared to Johan Oviedo. He only has a couple of innings under his belt so far this season. Furthermore, I also think that the Toronto Blue Jays have the more consistent and potent lineup. While Toronto’s bullpen hasn’t been perfect, Pittsburgh still has one of the worst bullpens in baseball in the month of August. I think that Toronto gets it done here. Give me Toronto.