The Pittsburgh Pirates (65-74) and Washington Nationals (62-77) meet Thursday at PNC Park, with first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET on MASN. The Pirates are -120 moneyline favorites for the contest, however, the Nationals are favored against the spread of 1.5 runs with +163 odds.
Bailey Falter takes the mound for Pittsburgh while Jake Irvin is Washington’s starter for the contest.
Pirates vs. Nationals Odds
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Who Will Win Pirates vs. Nationals?
Pirates and Nationals Betting Trends
The Pirates have gone 28-23 in games they were listed as the moneyline favorite (winning 54.9% of those games).
Pittsburgh has gone 20-18 when it has played as moneyline favorites with odds of -120 or shorter (52.6% winning percentage).
The Nationals have entered the game as underdogs 115 times this season and won 50, or 43.5%, of those games.
Washington has entered 100 games this season as the underdog by +102 or more and is 42-58 in those contests.
In the 139 games in which bookmakers have set an over/under for the Pirates, they have combined with opponents to go over the total 68 times (68-69-2).
The Nationals’ games have gone over the total in 66 of their 139 chances.
Pirates Stats & Insights
The Pirates rank 24th in runs scored with 582, 4.2 per game.
Pittsburgh is fifth-worst in MLB action with 137 home runs.
The Pirates are 23rd in the majors with a .235 batting average.
Pittsburgh’s 9.3 strikeouts per game are the fourth-most in the majors.
The pitching staff for the Pirates has a collective 8.4 K/9, which ranks 20th in MLB.
Pittsburgh has a 4.16 team ERA that ranks 17th across all MLB pitching staffs.
Nationals Stats & Insights
The Nationals have scored the 23rd-most runs in the league this season with 584 (4.2 per game).
Washington’s 116 home runs rank 29th in MLB this season.
The Nationals rank 14th in MLB with a .244 team batting average.
Washington ranks fifth in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 7.4 Ks per contest.
The Nationals average the 23rd-most strikeouts per nine innings (8.3) in the majors this season.
Washington has pitched to a 4.30 ERA this season, which ranks 22nd in baseball.
Pirates Key Players to Watch
The Pirates will send Falter (6-7) to make his 24th start of the season. He is 6-7 with a 4.41 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings pitched.
Bryan Reynolds leads Pittsburgh in batting average (.280), home runs (22) and runs batted in (77) this season.
Oneil Cruz has collected 127 hits this season and has an OBP of .322. He’s slugging .458 on the year.
Andrew McCutchen is slashing .237/.335/.417 this season for the Pirates.
Bryan De La Cruz has 124 hits and an OBP of .275 to go with a slugging percentage of .388 this season.
Nationals Key Players to Watch
Irvin (9-11) will take the mound for the Nationals, his 29th start of the season.
C.J. Abrams has racked up a team-best 18 home runs.
Luis Garcia has 63 RBI while batting .290. Both pace his team.
Jacob Young is hitting .263 with 23 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 27 walks.
Keibert Ruiz has 15 doubles, 13 home runs and 13 walks while hitting .223.
Pirates and Nationals Injuries
Pirates: Ke’Bryan Hayes: 10 Day IL (Herniated disc), Joey Bart: 10 Day IL (Hamstring), Ben Heller: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Marco Gonzales: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Daulton Jefferies: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Dauri Moreta: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Stratton: 60 Day IL (Patella), Johan Oviedo: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Endy Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow)
Nationals: Alex Call: 10 Day IL (Leg), Joan Adon: 15 Day IL (Biceps), Mason Thompson: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Trevor Williams: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Josiah Gray: 60 Day IL (Elbow)
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