It’s an NL Central rivalry this weekend from PNC Park as the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s Chase Anderson on the bump for the Brew Crew in Game 1 on Thursday against young Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove. Bet on it now at MyBookie.
How to Bet Brewers vs Pirates MLB Lines, Game Info & Preview
- When: Thursday, 7:05 PM ET
- Where: PNC Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Chase Anderson/Joe Musgrove
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: Milwaukee / Pittsburgh
- Opening MLB Lines: Brewers -115, Pirates +105 (total 8.5)
Why Bet on Milwaukee?
The Brewers have an advantage here because they were off Tuesday after splitting two games in Minnesota to open this week. Yasmani Grandal went 2-for-4 with a triple and a solo home run in Tuesday’s loss to the Twins. The homer was the 11th of the season for the 30-year-old, who’s hitting .268/.373/.512 with 29 RBI, 26 runs scored and he’s even stolen three bases.
Orlando Arcia has seven game-winning RBI in the 7th inning or later since the start of last season, which is tied for second most during this period (only San Diego’s Hunter Renfroe has more with nine). Christian Yelich (21hr/10sb) is the only player in the majors with double digits in both HR and stolen bases this season.
Josh Hader leads all MLB relievers with 51 strikeouts in just 27.0 innings (17.00 K/9 IP). In 9 appearances in May, he is 1-1 with a 0.73 ERA and 6 saves (12.1ip, 4h, 1r, 1er, 4bb, 20k, 1hr) while holding opponents to a .100 average (4-for-40).
Chase Anderson (2-0) didn’t factor into the decision in last Friday’s 6-4 loss to the Phillies, giving up three runs on six hits over four innings while striking out four. The right-hander wasn’t overly efficient, needing 83 pitches (54 strikes) to record 12 outs, but the Brewers were ahead 4-3 when Anderson hit the showers.
He hasn’t completed five innings in any of his last three starts, and with Jimmy Nelson (shoulder) closing in on a return, Anderson remains the most likely pitcher to lose his spot in the Milwaukee rotation when Nelson comes off the IL despite his 3.25 ERA and 29:13 K:BB through 27.2 innings on the year.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs: 4.88
- Hits: 8.46
- Walks: 3.80
- Strike Outs: 9.66
- Runs: 4.64
- Hits: 8.43
- Walks: 3.55
- Strike Outs: 9.21
Why Bet on Pittsburgh?
With two games remaining in May, Josh Bell has already set the club record for most total bases (84) during the month; previous mark was 79 by Roberto Clemente in 1967 and Ralph Kiner in 1949. Among all Major League players this season, only Cody Bellinger (147) has more total bases than Bell (142). Bell has started in the cleanup spot in each of the club’s first 54 games this season. The last Pirates player to hit fourth in at least each of the first 54 games of a season was Bobby Bonilla in 1991 (59 games).
Outfielder Gregory Polanco got Wednesday’s game off but it was just a routine day. Catcher Francisco Cervelli remains on the concussion list. Shortstop Erik Gonzalez and outfielder Corey Dickerson also are out injured.
Pirates are in disarray in their pitching staff. For one thing, they have already played four games this week with a doubleheader on Monday. Second, they saw another starter get hurt in Tuesday’s loss in Cincinnati. That was their current ace Jordan Lyles, who was removed from his start due to left hamstring discomfort. Lyles gave up three runs on three hits in four innings to the Cincinnati Reds before exiting.
The potential injury is more bad news for an ailing Pirates rotation, which currently has seven pitchers on the injured list — including starters Chris Stratton (arm), Trevor Williams (side), Jameson Taillon (elbow) and Chad Kuhl, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and out for the season.
It’s Joe Musgrove here. Musgrove allowed six runs on 10 hits with one strikeout and no walks across five innings to take the loss against the Dodgers on Saturday. Musgrove has allowed more than five runs in three of his starts this year while he hasn’t yielded a single run in three other outings.
He has permitted only two home runs and 17 walks over 59 innings, and opponents are hitting just .229 against him, but he pitches to contact, which has gotten him into trouble. Because of poor defense, Musgrove has allowed seven unearned runs in 15 appearances. Overall, he is 3-5 with a 4.27 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 59 innings this year.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Runs: 4.06
- Hits: 8.70
- Walks: 2.63
- Strike Outs: 8.28
- Runs: 5.22
- Hits: 8.76
- Walks: 3.52
- Strike Outs: 8.76
Brewers vs Pirates MLB Betting Trends
- Brewers are 6-2 in Anderson’s last 8 starts vs. Pirates
- Brewers are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh
- Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings
- Under is 13-6-1 in the last 20 meetings in Pittsburgh
- Pirates are 2-5 SU in the last 7 games
- Pirates are 6-2 SU in the last 8 games when playing at home against Milwaukee
Expert Predictionfor Brewers vs Pirates
Brewers 5, Pirates 4
