Minnesota (2-2) at Pittsburgh (4-0)
When: Wednesday, April 4th 2018
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 6:05 ET | TV: FS North, AT&T Sportsnet Pittsburgh
Opening Odds: Pittsburgh -105/8
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There have been a few early surprises this young MLB season, but Pittsburgh Pirates may have opened the most eyes thus far. Pittsburgh is supposed to be in rebuilding-mode in 2018, but they are left as the last undefeated team in the league (4-0) and will try and sweep a two-game interleague series with the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night. The Pirates battled cold weather in Detroit to start the season and swept a double-header against the Tigers on Sunday before returning home to deal with ice and snow on Monday. Colin Moran belted his first career grand slam in the first inning in the Pirates 5-4 victory over Minnesota in their home opener. Twins pitching allowed a total of five runs in taking two out of three at Baltimore, but matched that number in the first inning on Monday before holding the Pirates scoreless for the remainder of the game. The Twins are fourth in the majors in team ERA (2.50) heading into Tuesday’s action and starters have posted three quality starts in four outings. Minnesota’s Jake Odorizzi and Pittsburgh’s Ivan Nova will both be making their second starts of the season in this contest.
Pitchers: Twins – Jake Odorizzi (0-0, 0.00 ERA) | Pirates – Ivan Nova (0-0, 3.60)
Odorizzi, who came over from Tampa Bay, pitched one of team’s quality outings, going six scoreless innings in his Minnesota debut on Opening Day but was held out of the decision. Odorizzi allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out seven against a good Baltimore Orioles offense. He is making his first career start against Pittsburgh and is 6-3 with a 3.33 ERA in 17 career interleague starts.
Nova also started his team’s first game this season, although it was a day late due to weather. He wasn’t bad, allowing two runs over five innings in a game the Pirates went on to win 13-10. Nova issued just 36 walks in 187 innings in 2017 but struggled with his control in the opener – walking three. Nova is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in three career games – two starts – against the Twins and is 11-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 23 career interleague games.
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The Pirates won’t be around in the playoff chase this season, but when you have a young team playing with momentum, you don’t want to go against them. Nova has been terrific in his interleague career and should be able to out-pitch Odorizzi in this one.
Pick: Pirates -105
BETTING TRENDS:
- Twins are 10-1 in their last 11 interleague games.
- Twins are 7-1 in their last 8 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Twins are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. National League Central.
- Twins are 4-1 in their last 5 games following a loss.
- Twins are 20-41 in their last 61 interleague games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Twins are 18-38 in their last 56 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Twins are 2-5 in their last 7 road games.
- Twins are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Twins are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Twins are 6-27 in their last 33 interleague road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Twins are 1-7 in their last 8 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Twins are 0-4 in their last 4 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 interleague games.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games following a win.
- Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 overall.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 6-0 in their last 6 games on grass.
- Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.
- Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 5-0 in their last 5 interleague home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 7-0 in their last 7 interleague home games.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 35-17 in their last 52 vs. American League Central.
- Pirates are 7-15 in their last 22 during game 2 of a series.
- Pirates are 4-9 in their last 13 games following an off day.
- Pirates are 3-7 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Pirates are 6-1 in Novas last 7 home starts.
- Pirates are 1-4 in Novas last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Pirates are 1-6 in Novas last 7 starts.
- Pirates are 1-6 in Novas last 7 starts on grass.
- Under is 6-0-1 in Twins last 7 during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Twins last 5 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
- Under is 4-1 in Twins last 5 interleague road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 4-1 in Twins last 5 interleague road games.
- Under is 7-2 in Twins last 9 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 7-2-2 in Twins last 11 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 6-2 in Twins last 8 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 5-2 in Twins last 7 games following an off day.
- Under is 5-2 in Twins last 7 road games.
- Under is 5-2 in Twins last 7 on grass.
- Under is 5-2 in Twins last 7 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 10-4 in Twins last 14 Wednesday games.
- Under is 5-2 in Twins last 7 overall.
- Under is 12-5-1 in Twins last 18 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 12-2 in Pirates last 14 vs. American League Central.
- Under is 10-2-1 in Pirates last 13 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 12-3-1 in Pirates last 16 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 on grass.
- Under is 22-6 in Pirates last 28 during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Pirates last 5 games following a win.
- Under is 5-2 in Pirates last 7 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 43-19-2 in Pirates last 64 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 11-1 in Novas last 12 starts during game 2 of a series.
- Under is 7-1 in Novas last 8 home starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Novas last 5 Wednesday starts.
- Over is 4-1 in Novas last 5 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Novas last 5 starts on grass.
- Under is 3-1-1 in Novas last 5 starts overall.
- Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
- Over is 5-2 in the last 7 meetings in Pittsburgh.
