Despite the loss of Ke’ Bryan Hayes and inconsistent to terrible pitching, the Battlin’ Buccos have exceeded expectations in the season’s first 3 weeks, at just 2 games below .500. The Pirates have been an underdog all 18 games. Initially, with the competent J. T. Brubaker scheduled to take the hill, I figured this one would be the first. However, now with the struggling Mitch Keller replacing him, this changes the outcome. Keller does have a win, but also sports an ERA of 8.74. Detroit counters with Jose Urena, who is 0-3 with an ERA of 5.44. Every Pirate who faced Urena in 2019 when he was a Marlin has lifetime average of at least .300. There is some value with the Pirates. However, I feel like the over is a safer play. As the Tigers proved yesterday, their lineup is capable of putting up runs against bad pitching, led by rookie masher Akil Baddoo (Electric Boogaloo?), Jonathan Schoop and Robbie Grossman, once described in MLB the Show as one of the best switch hitters ever. The fact that it’s a “Getaway Day” won’t come into play.
The Pick: Over 8 (-115)
Leave a Reply