Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals Prediction, 4/4/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Washington Nationals

Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024

Location: Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

TV: MASN

The Pittsburgh Pirates (5-0) are headed to Nationals Park on Thursday where they will attempt to beat the Washington Nationals (1-3). The expected starting pitchers are Martin Perez and Josiah Gray.

As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 7.8 runs per game, which has them at 1st in MLB. They have earned a total of 39 runs while having a team on-base percentage of .400. The Pirates have accumulated 16 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 4 balls out of the park. They have earned 38 runs batted in in addition to 61 hits this year, and their average at the plate sits at .302. Pittsburgh is slugging .450 and have been rung up 57 times, while drawing a walk on 32 occasions.

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The Pirates hold a team ERA of 3.67 for the year (15th in the league), and their staff has struck out 46 batters. Pirates pitchers have allowed 4 home runs in addition to 21 runs in total (12th in the league). They have walked 18 batters and their FIP comes in at 3.78 as a team for the year. Pittsburgh has allowed 37 base knocks (6.8 per 9 innings) and 20 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.56 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.12.

Pirates relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 9 times as well as having 10 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have racked up 4 holds on the year (8th in the league). The Pirates relievers have a save percentage of 66.7% and has stepped onto the mound in 10 save situations. They have compiled 4 saves so far this season and have blown 2 of their 6 save opportunities. The relievers have inherited 11 runners so far this year with 9.1% of them earned a run for their team. The Pirates have sent 20 relievers to the hill over the course of the season.

The Pirates have transformed 72.2% of baseballs in play into outs in their 441 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 10th in the majors. The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a total of 147 putouts for the season, as well as 53 assists and 4 errors. Their fielding rate sits at .980 which ranks 20th in pro baseball, and have accumulated 8 double plays.

Perez has taken the hill for 1,445 innings and has accumulated 1,004 punch outs so far in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.43 (711 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.444. He has conceded 1,565 hits (9.7 hits per nine innings) and has 522 free passes. Perez (85-81 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 4.41 while he has gone up against 6,273 batters in the majors.

Washington has recorded 5 home runs on the year as well as 17 RBIs. They have 4 doubles, while taking a walk 14 times and scoring 18 runs. The Washington Nationals have a team on-base percentage of .329 as well as a team batting average of .252 for the year. The Nationals have a team slugging percentage of .407 and they are scoring 4.50 runs per outing (14th in MLB). They have been rung up on 38 occasions (25th in baseball) and have recorded 34 hits.

The Nationals have a team WHIP of 1.842 and have a FIP of 5.18 as a unit so far this season. They are currently ranked 19th in baseball as a staff in total hits given up with 49. The Washington pitching staff have allowed 28 runs this season while holding an ERA of 7.37 (28 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.60 (33 strikeouts vs 14 walks). They have surrendered 6 homers and they relinquish 7.37 runs per 9 innings (28th in MLB).

Washington has had bullpen pitchers enter the game in 2 save chances and they have walked away with 1 save. They rank 16th in MLB with a save rate of 50.0%, and they have dispatched 16 relievers onto the diamond this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 6 times in high leverage situations and on 4 occasions with base runners. Washington relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 60.0% out of their 5 inherited runners. Sitting with 4 save situations, the Nationals have earned 2 holds and 1 blown save.

The Washington Nationals have gotten 3 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of 1.000 (1st in the majors). The Nationals have recorded 39 assists, 0 errors and have 104 putouts over the course of the season. In 312 innings on the diamond, the Nationals hold a defensive efficiency of 60.4% (28th in baseball).

Gray (17-26 mark in his career) holds a 4.76 earned run average while conceding 8.5 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.09 and he has faced 1,676 opposing hitters during his MLB career. He has given up a total of 202 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.412 and a FIP of 5.5. In his pro baseball career, Gray has given up 359 base hits while he has accumulated 379 K's in 382 frames.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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