Free MLB Pick: Marlins vs Pirates Odds
Looking for Miami Marlins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates free picks? MLB betting sees the Marlins taking on the Pirates on Friday, August 19th at PNC Park. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all MLB baseball matchups all season long so stay tuned for more FREE daily MLB predictions.
Miami Marlins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Date: Friday August 19, 2016
Time: 7:05 PM ET
Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Projected Pitchers: Tom Koehler vs. Gerrit Cole
MLB Moneyline Odds: Pirates -160
MLB RunLine Betting Odds: Off
MLB Betting Total: 7.5
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This is a critical series in the NL. With the Marlins recent struggles the Bucs have passed them in the playoff pecking order.
Both teams are on the outside right now but close enough.
Pittsburgh is a very interesting case of lingering around while Miami looks a little dead in the water without their top player Giancarlo Stanton.
Miami Marlins
It is a tough blow to the Marlins to love Stanton for the season, but please do not follow through on those rumours to bring in A-Rod. No team in the NL appears to be running away with things so they just need someone in their lineup to get hot.
Maybe Justin Bour can find his power stroke of last year when he returns from the disabled list.
The return of Dee Gordon lets them play more small ball too. Don’t count out this group just yet.
Tom Koehler is not Jose Fernandez but he is second on the Marlins in wins and ERA so perhaps I should be kinder when I write about him.
In his last 5 starts he has given up more then 1ER just once so he seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses (though perhaps hitters are tiring).
He is far from an ace and does not give the Marlins a big edge when he is on the mound.
That’s just the way it is.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh swept the Giants to start the week. Add that to taking 2 of 3 against LAD and that is how they are where they are – all on the road too.
They are back home and about as healthy as they have been all season so maybe there is a run in this club. Andrew McCutheon might finally be on track too, he has 2 hits in four of this last six games.
Pittsburgh is going to be very interesting down the stretch and they have experience in these pressure spots.
Gerrit Cole won 19 games last season and appeared to have ascended to ace status. This season has proven that mantle is not so easy to maintain, his health and performance have been nowhere near what was expected.
The think the thing is that he has lost his dominance and is just not enough of a true pitcher at this stage of his career to get by. His numbers are better at home though.
MLB Baseball Betting Trends:
- Under is 7-3-1 in Koehlers last 11 Fri. starts.
- Over is 7-3 in Koehlers last 10 starts on grass.
- Over is 7-3 in Koehlers last 10 starts overall.
- PIT are 45-21 in their last 66 Fri. games.
- PIT are 9-2 in Coles last 11 Fri. starts.
- PIT are 2-7 in Coles last 9 starts.
Free Miami Marlins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Prediction:
When I see Koehler on the probable I immediately think fade but that strategy is probably only good about half the time. Still I have a hard time really thinking about the Marlins in this spot.
Cole is the big name for the Bucs so getting max value is challenging.
He has been the favourite in every home start this season and the smallest has been -140 vs. the Cubbies. The Marlins are not the Cubs.
4* Free MLB Betting Pick: Pittsburgh RL
Now that the playoff juices are pumping perhaps Cole can reach back and find something extra for this one. Plus no Stanton really takes the bite out of the Marlins lineup.
Plus the Pirates are going good right now.
MLB Free Score Prediction: Pittsburgh 6 – Miami 3
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