Los Angeles Dodgers at Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Picks Against the Spread 5/24/2019

Friday, May 24, 2019

PNC Park

Get todays MLB odds and lines on this game.

Probable Pitchers: Walker Buehler vs. Joe Musgrove

Justin Turner and the Los Angeles Dodgers (32-18, 1st in NL West) travel to PNC Park on Friday where they'll meet the Pittsburgh Pirates (24-22, 3rd in NL Central). The Pirates open this game at +145 while the Dodgers are coming in at -155. The O/U opens at 9.

The Dodgers have been lousy for Vegas, having gone 32-18-0 SU. The Pirates cover 52.2% of the time, going 24-22-0 straight up. The Dodgers have been lousy for Vegas as the favorite, going 32-16-0 SU. The Pirates cover 51.8% of the time as the underdog, having gone 14-13-0 straight up.

Valuable Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends

The Dodgers have been a less than ideal Under pick for over/under MLB bettors, having gone 25-23-2.

The Dodgers cover 52.0% of the time as the away team, having gone 13-12-0 straight up.

Important Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pirates cover 45.0% of the time at PNC Park, going 9-11-0 SU.

The Pirates have been a less than ideal Under pick for over/under MLB bettors, having gone 25-21-0.

Key Los Angeles Dodgers Injuries

05/18/19 P Kenta Maeda Thigh 10-day IL (05/16)
05/14/19 P Julio Urias Personal 10-day IL (05/14)
04/30/19 CF A.J. Pollock Elbow 10-day IL (04/30)
03/25/19 P Tony Cingrani Shoulder 10-day IL (03/25)

Key Pittsburgh Pirates Injuries

05/16/19 P Trevor Williams Side 10-day IL (05/17)
05/14/19 3B Jung Ho Kang Side 10-day IL (05/13)
05/08/19 P Keone Kela Elbow 10-day IL (05/06)
05/04/19 P Jameson Taillon Elbow 60-day IL (05/04)
04/23/19 P Nick Burdi Elbow 60-day IL (04/23)
04/21/19 C Jacob Stallings Neck 10-day IL (04/18)
04/20/19 2B Erik Gonzalez Collarbone 60-day IL (04/20)
04/04/19 LF Corey Dickerson Shoulder 10-day IL (04/04)
03/30/19 P Edgar Santana Elbow 60-day IL (03/30); is out for season
03/28/19 RF Lonnie Chisenhall Finger 10-day IL (03/28)
03/25/19 P Chad Kuhl Elbow 60-day IL (03/01)

Useful Pitching Statistics

The Dodgers have a 32-18 overall record this season. Starting pitcher Walker Buehler has a 4-1 record with an earned run average of 3.83 and a WHIP of 1.05 this season. He has 46 strikeouts over his 49.1 innings pitched and he's given up 42 hits. He's allowed 7.7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.2. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.62 and they have given up 139 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .234 against the bullpen and they've struck out 153 hitters and walked 48 batters. As a team, Los Angeles allows 7.5 hits per nine innings while striking out 9 batters per nine innings. They are 3rd in the league in team earned run average at 3.47. The Dodgers pitchers collectively have given up 368 base hits and 171 earned runs. They have allowed 60 home runs this season, ranking them 21st in the league. Los Angeles as a pitching staff has walked 114 batters and struck out 441. They have walked 2.3 men per 9 innings while striking out 9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.09 and their FIP as a unit is 3.76.

Hitting Statistics

As a team Los Angeles is hitting .252, good for 12th in the league. The Dodgers hold a .446 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .341, which is good for 5th in baseball. They rank 18th in MLB with 8.3 hits per game. Justin Turner is hitting .282 with an on-base percentage of .378. He has 46 hits this season in 163 at bats with 23 runs batted in. He has a slugging percentage of .429 and an OPS+ of 119. Cody Bellinger is hitting .394 this year and he has an on-base percentage of .478. He has totaled 67 hits and he has driven in 44 men in 170 at bats. His OPS+ is 230 while his slugging percentage is at .765. The Dodgers have 417 hits, including 72 doubles and 77 home runs. Los Angeles has walked 205 times so far this season and they have struck out 397 times as a unit. They have left 362 men on base and have a team OPS of .787. They score 5.14 runs per contest and have scored a total of 257 runs this year.

Useful Pitching Statistics

Pittsburgh has a 24-22 overall mark this year. With an earned run average of 3.67, Joe Musgrove has a 3-4 record and a 1.07 WHIP. He has 44 strikeouts over the 54 innings he's pitched. He also has given up 41 hits. He's allowing 6.8 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.04. The bullpen has an earned run average of 4.69 and they have given up 163 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .247 against the Pirates bullpen. Their relievers have struck out 197 batters and walked 78 opposing hitters. As a team, Pittsburgh allows 8.3 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.1 batters per nine innings. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.35. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 382 base knocks and 199 earned runs this season. They have given up 51 home runs this year, which ranks 27th in Major League Baseball. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 158 hitters and struck out 415 batters. They give up a walk 3.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 9.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.31 while their FIP as a staff is 3.95.

Hitting Statistics

As a team, they are batting .241, good for 21st in the league. The Pirates hold a .380 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .302, which is good for 23rd in baseball. They rank 20th in MLB with 8.3 hits per contest. Melky Cabrera comes into this matchup batting .336 with an OBP of .373. He has 45 hits this year along with 14 RBI in 134 AB's. He maintains a slugging percentage of .463 with an OPS+ of 129. Josh Bell is hitting .329 this season and he has an OBP of .398. He has collected 57 hits in 173 at bats while driving in 45 runs. He has an OPS+ of 192 and a slugging percentage of .694. The Pirates as a unit have 382 base hits, including 74 doubles and 43 homers. Pittsburgh has walked 126 times this year and they have struck out on 389 occasions. They have had 325 men left on base and have an OPS of .682. They have scored 3.74 runs per game and totaled 172 runs this season.

Who will win tonight's Dodgers/Pirates MLB game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Pirates +145

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