Arizona (13-11) at Pittsburgh (12-9)
When: Wednesday, April 24th, 2019
Where: PNC Park,
Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: FS Arizona,
AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -137/8
The Arizona Diamondbacks are nearing the end of their long 10-game road trip and so far, its been a very successful one. Despite losing a series at the Chicago Cubs last weekend, Arizona is 6-2 on the trip after a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. They will look to keep the struggling Pirates’ bats at bay in the third game of their four-game set on Wednesday as Merrill Kelly goes up against Jordan Lyles. Eduardo Escobar collected three hits for the second straight game on Tuesday for the Diamondbacks, who took the opener 12-4 and have not lost at PNC Park since the 2017 season. The Pirates have dropped out of first place in the NL Central and are hoping to get the offense going, which is ranked near the bottom in runs (3.48), AVG (.230), and home runs (16). Pittsburgh has scored less than two runs six times this season, but their pitching has been terrific, ranking second in the entire league with a 2.97 ERA. Gregory Polanco is back in the lineup and has two hits in each of his first two games of the season following offseason shoulder surgery. Pirates rookie outfielder Bryan Reynolds has at least one hit in each of his first four major-league games, but left Tuesday’s game due to discomfort in his left quadriceps.
Pitchers: Diamondbacks – Merrill Kelly (1-2, 4.37 ERA) | Pirates – Jordan Lyles (2-0, 0.53)
Kelly is a 30-year old rookie who spent the last four seasons in Korea and suffered his second loss in four starts last time out. Kelly allowed three runs on six hits and seven walks in only 3.2 innings in a 5-1 loss at the Chicago Cubs over the weekend. He has allowed seven runs over his last 8.2 innings of work and will face Pittsburgh for the first time.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Pittsburgh wouldn’t be above .500 if it weren’t for their pitching staff and Lyles has been a big part of that. The former first round pick has allowed just one in three starts covering 17 innings while striking out 18. Lyles pitched six scoreless innings to record the win against San Francisco on Friday. Lyles has seen the Diamondbacks plenty from his time with San Diego, going 2-6 with a 7.23 ERA in 19 career appearances (nine starts) against them.
I know we’re less than a month into the season, but Lyles is surely looking like a Cy Young candidate – an All-Star at least. The Pirates offense has been bad, but Kelly has been getting progressively worse in his last couple of starts and I think Pittsburgh gets enough runs across the plate to defeat the D’Backs tonight.
Bobby Babowski has 1 free prediction on his Free MLB Picks page for Wednesday. He is 41-30 on the season after a 6-2 run!
Pick: Pirates -115
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Diamondbacks are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Diamondbacks are 7-0 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Diamondbacks are 6-0 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
Diamondbacks are 8-2 in their last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Diamondbacks are 7-2 in their last 9 overall.
Diamondbacks are 7-2 in their last 9 games on grass.
Diamondbacks are 6-2 in their last 8 road games.
Diamondbacks are 5-2 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Diamondbacks are 5-2 in their last 7 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Diamondbacks are 7-15 in their last 22 Wednesday games.
Diamondbacks are 3-8 in their last 11 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Diamondbacks are 3-9 in their last 12 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Diamondbacks are 1-6 in their last 7 during game 3 of a series.
Pirates are 8-1 in their last 9 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 7-1 in their last 8 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 6-2 in their last 8 Wednesday games.
Pirates are 11-4 in their last 15 games following a loss.
Pirates are 5-2 in their last 7 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 15-7 in their last 22 home games.
Pirates are 10-21 in their last 31 vs. National League West.
Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-7 in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 5-0 in Diamondbacks last 5 games following a win.
Under is 4-0-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 during game 3 of a series.
Over is 7-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 9 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-1 in Diamondbacks last 8 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 6-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 overall.
Under is 6-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 road games.
Under is 6-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 6-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 on grass.
Under is 6-1 in Diamondbacks last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Over is 17-4 in Diamondbacks last 21 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
Under is 8-2 in Diamondbacks last 10 Wednesday games.
Under is 4-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 vs. National League Central.
Under is 3-1-1 in Diamondbacks last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Diamondbacks last 11 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 9-4-1 in Diamondbacks last 14 vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 6-1 in Pirates last 7 vs. National League West.
Under is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 overall.
Under is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 on grass.
Under is 10-2 in Pirates last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 home games.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 7-2 in Pirates last 9 Wednesday games.
Under is 9-3 in Pirates last 12 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Under is 19-7 in Pirates last 26 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 20-8 in Pirates last 28 games following a loss.
Under is 35-16-1 in Pirates last 52 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Under is 24-11 in Pirates last 35 vs. a team with a winning record.
Diamondbacks are 8-0 in the last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh.
Diamondbacks are 10-1 in the last 11 meetings.
Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
