Friday night is going to be a night to remember as the MLB serves two huge games that will definitely end your week with a bang.
Kicking things off are the Pittsburgh Pirates (83-56) looking to continue their push for a National League postseason berth when they play host to the Milwaukee Brewers (62-78) for the second bout of their three-game set at PNC Park. Later on, two AL West division rivals—the Houston Astros (76-64) and Los Angeles Angels (70-69)—battle it out for Game 1 of their crucial three-game series at Angel Stadium.
Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of these two mouth-watering matchups. And while you’re at it check out as well our other previews: Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (7:05 PM ET)
Line: Milwaukee Brewers (+150) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (-170); total: 7.5 – view all MLB lines
[sc:MLB240banner ]Jimmy Nelson (11-11, 3.86 ERA) continues to struggle with his consistency this season. Nelson is coming off an awful performance in his last time out at Cincinnati Sunday night, allowing five earned runs and nine hits in over five innings for the disappointing 6-3 loss. But he was the complete opposite prior to this outing, as he threw seven solid innings of one-run ball and registered six K’s to get the 7-4 win versus the Bucs.
Following this pattern, don’t expect Nelson to have a strong performance when he takes the hill tonight against the Pirates for the second time this month. Across 15 road starts, he is 6-8 with a dismal 4.61 ERA and 1.61 WHIP on the season.
Speaking of the Pirates, they will be countering with Charlie Morton (8-7, 4.07 ERA). Morton is fresh off a nice outing at St. Louis on September 5, during which he pitched six frames of two-run ball despite the 4-1 loss. Against the Brewers, he is 3-7 with a 4.27 ERA and 1.41 WHIP through 13 career starts.
Milwaukee is 5-2 in its last seven games with Nelson starting. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, is 5-5 in Morton’s previous 10 starts.
Writer’s Prediction
The Pirates (-170) win, 7-4.
Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Angels (10:05 PM ET)
Line: Houston Astros ( -135 ) vs. Los Angeles Angels (+125); total: 7.0 – view all MLB lines
This season has been a display of pure dominance from Dallas Keuchel (17-6, 2.29 ERA), who hasn’t lost a game since August 7 at Oakland. Keuchel has only given up three earned runs or fewer in each of his past seven starts. Then during his previous outing versus Minnesota Sunday night, the the 27-year-old lefty threw eight innings of three-run ball, while recording 12 strikeouts to garner the 8-5 triumph and his 17th win.
Keuchel will try to match Jake Arrieta’s MLB-best of 18 wins when he toes the rubber later this evening and faces off with the Angels. On the road, he is 4-6 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.10 WHIP through 12 starts thus far this year.
As for the Halos, they’ll be handing the ball to Jered Weaver (6-10, 4.78 ERA). Weaver is coming off a nice bounce back performance in his last turn, giving up just one run on four hits and three walks in over six innings of work despite the 2-1 loss to Texas Saturday night. He’ll hope to notch the win this time around opposite the Astros. Weaver owns a 3-2 record with a 2.86 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across nine starts at Angel Stadium.
Houston is undefeated in its last five games with Keuchel starting. Los Angeles, on the other hand, is 3-7 in Weavers’ previous 10 turns.
Writer’s Prediction
Keuchel pitches a gem for the Astros to (-135) lead them to the 7-3 road victory.
Create a betting account now, and don’t miss out on all the action with these two exciting games.
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