MLB Betting Preview: Pirates Host Brewers at PNC Park
The last time the Brewers came to Pittsburgh, the Pirates were indeed gracious hosts as they dropped three to Milwaukee by the combined score of 36-1.
Seriously, could there be a less interesting game on the MLB schedule than the Brewers and Pirates? Discounting an Astros, Orioles interleague matchup, of course.
Perhaps it's my inner masochist that draws me towards some of these off-the-marquee contests. There is, however, a little bit of intrigue to this two-game set and Tuesday's opener. The Brewers have already swept the Pirates on their home turf this season, winning three in convincing fashion to start the season's third week.
So we have Pittsburgh looking to get back at Milwaukee for the embarrassment in front of the home fans after the Brew Crew demolished the Pirates by a combined 36-1 count. The Pirates did exact a little revenge already, taking two of three in Milwaukee in late April.
The game will feature a pair of left-handers with Randy Wolf (4-5, 4.66) getting the call for Milwaukee and Brian Burres (3-1, 5.00) going for Pittsburgh. Early baseball betting odds released Tuesday afternoon made the Brewers 155 favorites. Tonight's toal sits at nine.
Milwaukee enters Iron City on an eight-game losing streak. The Brewers were swept in consecutive home series last week at the hands of the Braves and Phillies, then hit the road and promptly lost two in Cincinnati.
They took a 4-2 lead into the ninth Tuesday before the Reds plated three off Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman for a 5-4 Cincy triumph. The defeat left the Brewers 15-24 on the season and one of three investments down double-digits at the baseball betting window (minus 11 units).
Pittsburgh backers will likely be drifting along a few feet above the pavement today after the Pirates cashed as plus 300 dogs on Tuesday. Zach Duke and Bucs relievers combined on a six-hitter to take down Roy Halladay and the Phils. The win puts the Pirates at 17-22 and up over six units on the year.
Wolf was the winning pitcher in the 20-0 laugher that ended the previous meeting between the two clubs. The 12-year veteran tossed six scoreless, also chipping in on offense with two singles and two runs scored. It marked Wolf's eighth consecutive start against the Bucs that ended in a win for his team, a streak that dates back to June 30, 2000, when he was pitching for the Phillies.
His most recent trip to the hill did not end victorious for his team, however. Wolf tossed five innings last Friday at home against the Phils, allowing six runs and a pair of homers in a 9-5 loss.
Bouncing between the pen and the rotation, Burres will be making his fifth start of the 2010 campaign to go with three relief outings. Two of his previous four starts have gone well, and two haven't, and Pittsburgh has come home a winner three times.
Burres also pitched last Friday, going against the Cubs in Chicago. It was one of his bad starts. The southpaw could complete just four innings with six runs (five earned) being charged to his ledger. He also gave up a monster jack to Marlon Byrd, the only homer he's allowed in his last 20 innings. The Pirates still managed to win the game, 10-6.
As has been the case all across the Lower 48 this week, rain's in the forecast. Weathermen are suggesting the chance of showers is strongest in the afternoon before turning partly cloudy. At least wind shouldn't be a factor for the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch with the thermometer expected to be around 60ºF.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, ESPN.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
The last time the Brewers came to Pittsburgh, the Pirates were indeed gracious hosts as they dropped three to Milwaukee by the combined score of 36-1.
Seriously, could there be a less interesting game on the MLB schedule than the Brewers and Pirates? Discounting an Astros, Orioles interleague matchup, of course.
Perhaps it's my inner masochist that draws me towards some of these off-the-marquee contests. There is, however, a little bit of intrigue to this two-game set and Tuesday's opener. The Brewers have already swept the Pirates on their home turf this season, winning three in convincing fashion to start the season's third week.
So we have Pittsburgh looking to get back at Milwaukee for the embarrassment in front of the home fans after the Brew Crew demolished the Pirates by a combined 36-1 count. The Pirates did exact a little revenge already, taking two of three in Milwaukee in late April.
The game will feature a pair of left-handers with Randy Wolf (4-5, 4.66) getting the call for Milwaukee and Brian Burres (3-1, 5.00) going for Pittsburgh. Early baseball betting odds released Tuesday afternoon made the Brewers 155 favorites. Tonight's toal sits at nine.
Milwaukee enters Iron City on an eight-game losing streak. The Brewers were swept in consecutive home series last week at the hands of the Braves and Phillies, then hit the road and promptly lost two in Cincinnati.
They took a 4-2 lead into the ninth Tuesday before the Reds plated three off Milwaukee closer Trevor Hoffman for a 5-4 Cincy triumph. The defeat left the Brewers 15-24 on the season and one of three investments down double-digits at the baseball betting window (minus 11 units).
Pittsburgh backers will likely be drifting along a few feet above the pavement today after the Pirates cashed as plus 300 dogs on Tuesday. Zach Duke and Bucs relievers combined on a six-hitter to take down Roy Halladay and the Phils. The win puts the Pirates at 17-22 and up over six units on the year.
Wolf was the winning pitcher in the 20-0 laugher that ended the previous meeting between the two clubs. The 12-year veteran tossed six scoreless, also chipping in on offense with two singles and two runs scored. It marked Wolf's eighth consecutive start against the Bucs that ended in a win for his team, a streak that dates back to June 30, 2000, when he was pitching for the Phillies.
His most recent trip to the hill did not end victorious for his team, however. Wolf tossed five innings last Friday at home against the Phils, allowing six runs and a pair of homers in a 9-5 loss.
Bouncing between the pen and the rotation, Burres will be making his fifth start of the 2010 campaign to go with three relief outings. Two of his previous four starts have gone well, and two haven't, and Pittsburgh has come home a winner three times.
Burres also pitched last Friday, going against the Cubs in Chicago. It was one of his bad starts. The southpaw could complete just four innings with six runs (five earned) being charged to his ledger. He also gave up a monster jack to Marlon Byrd, the only homer he's allowed in his last 20 innings. The Pirates still managed to win the game, 10-6.
As has been the case all across the Lower 48 this week, rain's in the forecast. Weathermen are suggesting the chance of showers is strongest in the afternoon before turning partly cloudy. At least wind shouldn't be a factor for the 7:05 p.m. ET first pitch with the thermometer expected to be around 60ºF.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2010 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, ESPN.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
