The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Toronto Blue Jays meet Saturday in MLB action from Rogers Centre. Here’s a Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates prediction. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for the game.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pirates played a doubleheader matchup with the Detroit Tigers back on Wednesday. Pittsburgh managed a draw in those games, losing 8-0 before a 10-2 victory. On Friday versus the Blue Jays, the Pirates took a tough 5-3 loss in 14 innings. Starter Bailey Falter lasted 6.0 clean frames with two hits and two walks.
In the starter role for the Pirates on Saturday it’ll be Mitch Keller. This year he’s 6-3 with a 3.59 ERA over 11 starts.. Keller has 58 Ks in 67.2 innings. In his career, Keller is 31-41 with a 4.58 ERA in 113 games (111 starts).
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
Over on the Blue Jays’ side, they took on the Chicago White Sox this week and did very well. Toronto took a sweep in that matchup with wins 5-1, 7-2 and 3-1. In the Friday game against the Pirates, the Jays got a homer from Davis Schneider in the walk-off win. Jose Berrios managed 7.0 innings with one earned on six hits.
It’ll be Yusei Kikuchi in the starting pitcher role for the Blue Jays on Saturday. This year Kikuchi is 2-4 with a 3.25 ERA and 61 Ks in 61.0 innings over 11 starts. Kikuchi is 34-41 with a 4.58 ERA in 145 career games (133 starts).
Pirates vs Blue Jays Injury Notes
Pirates RP Martin Perez (groin) was placed on the 15-day Injured List this week. Catcher Joey Bart (thumb) hit the 10-day IL on Tuesday.
Blue Jays SP Alek Manoah (elbow) will receive an MRI on his injury Thursday.
Total Runs Facts
- Six of the Pirates’ last seven day games against AL East opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Five of the Blue Jays’ last six day games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last 12 games as favorites.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last five games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Daulton Varsho has hit a home run in two of his last three appearances at Rogers Centre against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded a Double in three of his last four appearances with his team as a favorite against the Pirates.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five appearances against the Pirates.
- Danny Jansen has scored a run in seven of his last eight appearances against NL opponents.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Blue Jays’ last nine Saturday games as favorites.
- Yusei Kikuchi has recorded six or more strikeouts in each of his last six home appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded at least one Single in 13 of the Blue Jays’ last 14 day games.
- Cavan Biggio has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has hit a home run in five of the Pirates’ last 11 day games.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Pirates’ last five games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Mitch Keller has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded two or more total bases in four of his last five road appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one Single in each of his last five appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Mitch Keller has recorded seven or more strikeouts in each of his last seven road appearances against AL opponents.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one hit in each of his last eight road appearances against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- Ji-Hwan Bae has scored a run in each of his last five road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Mitch Keller ranks T9th in the league for Wins (6) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Blue Jays rank 2nd in the league for strikeouts against this season (404).
- The Toronto Blue Jays rank 28th in the league for home runs allowed this season (70).
- The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 28th in the league for slugging percentage this season (.354).
- The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 27th in the league for strikeouts against this season (546).
Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction
I’ll stick with the Jays. Kikuchi does need a good bounce-back start, though. In his last outing against the Tigers, Kikuchi left after 3.0 innings, five earned and eight hits for a no-decision. In the two starts prior to that however, Kikuchi gave up three earned in 10.1 innings on 11 hits and four walks total.
On Friday the Blue Jays had a pretty stellar pitching effort across the board. Following Berrios’ one earned in 7.0 frames, the pen added another 7.0 clean innings afterward. Saturday’s game should be competitive as well.