Pittsburgh Pirates vs Milwaukee Brewers Prediction, Pick and Preview, April 18 (4/18): MLB

Credit: photo by Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel-USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time	7:40 p.m. EST
Pirates money line	+144
Pirates run line	+1.5 (-130)
Brewers money line	-175
Brewers run line	-1.5 (+110)
Over / under	8.5

 

Key stats

	Pittsburgh Pirates	Milwaukee Brewers
Record	5-4	5-5
Road / home record	1-2	2-2
Last 10 record	5-4	5-5
Streak	W2	W1
Over / under record	4-2-3	4-4-2
Runs / game	4.44	3.10
Runs allowed / game	4.56	4.40

 

Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Milwaukee to play a 3-game series against the Brewers at the American Family Field. The Pirates won their first series of the season against the Nationals and the Brewers split their last series against the Cardinals.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates get here with a 5-4 record after winning 3 of the last 4 games against the Nationals. The team is averaging 4.44 runs per game and allowing 4.56 runs. Ke'Bryan Hayes is batting for .400 AVG. Michael Chavis has 6 RBI and Bryan Reynolds 2 home runs.

Will Crowe holds a 0.00 ERA and 10 strikeouts while Dillon Peters has recorded 2 wins for the Pirates.

Probable Pitcher:

Zach Thompson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will be on the mound for the Pirates in the 1st game of the series. Thompson sustained a right shoulder contusion when he was hit by a comebacker Wednesday, and the issue doesn't appear to be particularly serious. He allowed 5 hits and 2 runs in 4.1 innings on that game against the Cubs.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers get here with a 5-5 record and have won 1 of their first 3 series of the season. The team is averaging 3.10 runs and allowing 4.40 runs per game. Andrew McCutchen is batting for a .282 AVG and has 5 RBI. Willy Adames has 1 home run.

Corbin Burnes is pitching for 2.25 ERA and has 12 strikeouts. Jake Cousins has 2 wins for the Brewers.

Probable Pitcher: 

Eric Lauer (0-0, 6.23 ERA) will take the mound in the 1st game of the series for the Brewers. Lauer gave up four runs, 3 earned over 4.1 innings and did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's victory over the Orioles. He allowed three hits and posted a 5:2 K:BB in the contest. In his last 3 games vs Pirates he has a 1.19 ERA and 13 strikeouts with 2 wins and a no decision.

BETTING TRENDS

Pittsburgh are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.

Pittsburgh are 3-13 SU in their last 16 games against Milwaukee.

The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Milwaukee's last 9 games at home.

Milwaukee are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh.

Prediction

The Brewers continue to struggle offensively, scoring 3.10 runs per game but they have dominated the Pirates winning 13 of the last 16 head to head games. Eric Lauer has done a great job against Pittsburgh holding them to only one run per game in his last 3 starts. It's uncertain how Thompson will be today so I'm going with the home team to win the game.

PICK: Brewers ML (-175)

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