Hold on to your seats folks! It’s going to be a wild Friday night in the MLB, as the Pittsburgh Pirates (87-59) pay the No. 1 team in the NL West, Los Angeles Dodgers (84-61), a visit for the first bout of their three-game series at Dodger Stadium later tonight. Expect the emotions to flair up in this crucial matchup especially with the postseason just around the corner.
Read on below for a detailed breakdown of this National League clash. And while you’re at it, check out as well our preview of the Yankees vs. Mets game.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
When: Friday, September 18, 10:10 PM ET
Line: Pittsburgh Pirates (+180) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (-210); Total: 6.5 —View all MLB Lines
Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
At this critical point of the season, losing is going to hurt a lot especially for teams eyeing a postseason appearance. The Pittsburgh Pirates could definitely relate to this, as their losing skid had apparently been extended to three games yesterday versus the Cubs. They’ll have a chance on putting an end to this drought in their series opener with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Jeff Locke (8-10, 4.43 ERA) will be wearing a smile on his face when he heads to the mound this evening. He is coming off a terrific effort versus the Brewers Saturday night, during which he logged in 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball and registered six strikeouts for the resounding 10-2 triumph. However, a repeat of this performance seems far-fetched as the 27-year-old lefty holds a 4-6 record with a 5.69 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, while allowing his opponents to bat .295 through 13 roads starts this year.
If Locke’s road woes persist, the Bucs’ offense that has provided him 4.32 RS/9 thus far this season better produce some timely contributions at the plate.
Looking to do just that is going to be the duo of Andrew McCutchen and Aramis Ramirez. McCutchen,who leads the Pirates in batting average (.298), RBIs (93), OBP (.397) and hits (153), has been holding a pretty hot bat opposite Zack Greinke, hitting .292 with three doubles and a homer off the Dodgers’ ace. Ramirez, meanwhile, is 6-for-20 lifetime in the same matchup.
Also, the Pirates will no longer have their shortstop Jung Ho Kang, as their shortstop suffered a season-ending injury in last night’s loss to Chicago.
Pittsburgh is 6-4 in its past 10 games with Locke starting.
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Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been taking care of business lately, winning seven of their previous 10 games. As a result, they’ve now hold a comfortable 7.5-game lead over the defending World Series champions—San Francisco Giants—for the division crown. The Dodgers will look to stretch their advantage even further when they open up their three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
That’s easier than done, but with Zack Greinke (17-3, 1.61 ERA)—a top NL Cy Young Award candidate this 2015 season—the Dodgers are bound to achieve some good results later. Greinke’s pitching prowess was on full display in his previous 14 turns. In that stretch, the 31-year-old right-hander is 12-1 with a 1.53 ERA, while delivering 94 K’s to his name as well.
It’s worth noting, though, that Greinke, who aims for his fifth-straight decision, has had his struggles against the Pirates, holding a 5-3 record with a dismal 5.37 ERA throughout nine career starts. If he continues this drought, the onus is on the Dodgers’ offense to back him up with some runs to be able to get the win.
Expect Adrian Gonzalez to lead the charge in lighting up the plate. Gonzalez is 8-for-20 in the last four outings with a homer and two RBIs under his name. He is also has gotten the best out of Jeff Locke in his career, going 2-for-6 off the Pirates’ starter.
Los Angeles is 6-1 in Greinke’s past seven starts.
Writer’s Prediction:
Pirates (+180) pull off the road win, 4-2, as the Dodgers’ offense struggles.
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