Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
| Brewers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
-130 | 8 -120o / +100u | -1.5 +135 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Total | Run Line |
+110 | 8 -120o / +100u | +1.5 -160 |
The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing great baseball to begin the season, and tonight they look to clinch a series win against the Brewers. Right-hander Bryse Wilson will be on the bump for the Brewers against lefty Josh Fleming for the Pirates.
Fleming is expected to serve as an opener to right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester. The Buccos have turned back the clock recently, as Andrew McCutchen has back-to-back games with a leadoff home run.
The Brewers got off to a scorching start offensively at the beginning of the season but have cooled off as of late.
Let's take a look at the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates odds and make a pick and prediction in our MLB betting preview for Wednesday, April 24.
Milwaukee Brewers
The offense was bound to cool down, but the Brewers bats have gone nearly silent in the first two games of the series. They've scored just three runs combined in the first two games, but I would take those results with a grain of salt.
The Buccos got terrific performances from Jared Jones and Bailey Falter, but now the Brewers draw a much easier matchup. Fleming may only pitch one inning, and then Derek Shelton will hand the ball to Priester, who is making his second appearance of the season.
It is tough to gauge what type of effort Priester will deliver because he is the definition of a player who can't leap from the minor leagues to the majors. It is a great opportunity for the Brewers bats to wake up.
With Christian Yelich on the shelf, the offense has not been nearly the same. However, there is plenty of talent sprinkled throughout the lineup that is more than capable of surviving his absence.
The current hitters on the roster are a combined 1-9 against Priester, but his recent big-league outings suggest he will struggle in this game. He has allowed eight home runs to left-handed hitters last season, so I expect a heavy dose of lefties for the Brewers.
Sal Frelick, Jake Bauers, Brice Turang and switch-hitting Blake Perkins provide plenty of balance in the lineup, and I expect them all in there even with Fleming opening the game. I like the Brewers offense to bounce back tonight.
Pittsburgh Pirates
With a young core that is bound to stick around for years to come, there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic for the future in Pirates Land. Tonight, they draw a tricky matchup against Wilson, who is a respectable big-league hurler.
Wilson is nowhere near being a top-of-the-rotation talent, but he is generating a lot of swings and misses to begin the season. He does not walk many batters but has trouble keeping the ball on the ground.
The Pirates have decent numbers against Wilson, as they are 12-for-40, which is good for a .300 average. Rowdy Tellez has exceptional numbers against Wilson, including two home runs.
The key for the Buccos tonight lies on the shoulders of Priester, who has yet to show any consistency when pitching in the big leagues. His minor-league numbers are dazzling, but he has yet to make the smooth transition.
Priester is bound to get lit up a bit throughout the start, especially with the Brewers offense due for a good day at the office. He'll face a heavy dose of lefties, even with Yelich out of the lineup.
With the big question mark surrounding Priester, I cannot trust the Pirates despite the decent numbers against Wilson.
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Brewers vs. Pirates
Betting Pick & Prediction
The Brewers are due for an offensive outbreak, and I think they'll tack on some runs against Priester. Fleming may stifle them in the first inning or two, but afterward the floodgates will open.
The lineup is not nearly as strong without Yelich, but there is plenty of firepower throughout to have a good day at the office. Wilson has shown flashes that he is capable of holding opposing offenses at bay, and his metrics this season suggest he may be improving.
It is scary backing an ice-cold offense, but it is time for the Brewers bats to wake up and carry them to victory.
