Pirates vs. Brewers Pick
Will the Pittsburgh Pirates salvage a series split in their game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday afternoon?
According to oddsmakers at BetDSI, the Brewers are a -123 favorite in the matchup. The Pirates are listed as a +112 underdog, while the over/under total for the game has been set at 8.5 runs.
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The pitching matchup for today has Gerrit Cole (10-8, 3.96 ERA) on the bump for the Pirates, while Jimmy Nelson (9-6, 3.72) toes the slab for the Brewers. Cole has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 11 of his last 12 starts, watching his ERA drop from 4.56. He is coming off a start at Detroit where he gave up three earned runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a walk over eight innings in a 7-5 win. Nelson was horrendous in his last start, giving up 10 runs (nine earned) on 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings of an 11-10 loss to St. Louis. It was out of the ordinary for Nelson, who was rounding into one of the better pitchers in the National League. Consider it a blip in the radar and look more closely at his previous three starts, where he allowed five earned runs on sixteen hits over 21 innings, striking out 26.
Milwaukee won the opener in the series 3-1, its third straight victory. The Brewers are 62-59 overall and 34-30 at home, while the Pirates are 58-61 overall and 26-35 on the road.
Keon Broxton helped spark the win in game one with a pinch-hit two-run homer, while Manny Pina drove in a pair of runs. Zach Davies pitched six-plus innings, allowing six hits while walking two and striking out two to earn the win.
Two strong pitchers who have been in good form for the last month or so, despite Nelson’s recent disastrous outing being out of the norm. Look for this game to stay low-scoring so the under isn’t a bad play, but ultimately the Brewers will likely manufacture an extra run or two in their home ballpark.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: MILWAUKEE BREWERS -123