Nationals vs Pirates Odds, Lines, and Probable Pitchers (Sep. 10)
By Robert Duff in MLB Baseball
Published:
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are -130 favorites to defeat the Washington Nationals in the opener of their three-game National League Series on Friday, September 10
- Washington has won five straight games from Pittsburgh
- The Pirates own an NL-worst -209 run differential
Two struggling National League teams are set to go at it in a weekend three-game series. The Pittsburgh Pirates (50-90, 35-39 home) are at the bottom of the NL Central. The Washington Nationals (58-82, 25-43 away) are at the bottom of the NL East.
Pittsburgh has lost 7 of the last nine games. Washington has lost of 10 of the last 12 games.
Of these two bottom feeders, it’s Pittsburgh that oddsmakers are going with in this game. The Pirates are -130 home favorites. Pittsburgh has won three of the last four at home.
Nationals vs Pirates Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | +110 | +1.5 (-195) | O 8.5 (-110) |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | -130 | -1.5 (+165) | U 8.5 (-110) |
Odds as of September 9th at DraftKings.
First pitch on Friday is set for 6:35pm ET at PNC Park. The forecast is calling for clear skies, 6 mph wind, and a temperature of 72 degrees.
Gray vs Brault
| 0-2 | Record | 0-3 |
| 5.62 | ERA | 5.61 |
| 4.52 | xERA | 5.67 |
| 1.42 | WHIP | 1.52 |
| 2.82 | SO/W Ratio | 1.80 |
Nationals right-hander Gray is 0-2 in seven starts for Washington since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Max Scherzer trade. He’s allowed 12 earned runs over a combined seven innings through his last two starts. That works out to an ERA of 15.43.
Gray has served up nine home runs over the past 25 innings that he’s pitched. He’s allowed at least one homer in each of his nine career big league appearances. His road ERA is 2.45, compared to a 6.75 ERA at home.
Josiah Gray's first 7 starts for the Nationals: 5.40 ERA, 1.400 WHIP
Jordan Zimmermann's first 7 starts for the Nationals: 5.71 ERA, 1.415 WHIP
No idea if Gray will end up having Zimmermann's career here or not. And that's the point: How could you know after only 7 starts?
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) September 5, 2021
This will be his first time facing the Pirates in an MLB regular season game. Gray rates among the bottom 5% in the NL in wOBA (.377) and in the bottom 2% in barrel percentage (13).
Pirates left-hander Brault has one win in his past 21 appearances dating back into the 2019 season. He’s 1-9 over that span. He’s worked beyond the fifth inning just once in six starts this season. All three of Brault’s losses have come at the hands of the St Louis Cardinals.
Steven Brault is a two way player. pic.twitter.com/QmyRoXP4Dd
— Chris Rose Sports (@ChrisRoseSports) September 3, 2021
Brault hasn’t faced the Nationals since August 22, 2019. He allowed two earned runs in seven innings that day and took the loss in a 7-1 Washington victory. He’s made four career appearances against the Nats, including two starts, and is 0-1 with a 7.84 ERA and 2.51 WHIP. Washington batters are hitting Brault at a .354 clip.
The Pittsburgh southpaw has posted one win at home since June 7, 2018.
Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers
| Pirates Batters | Batting Average vs Gray | Nationals Batters | Batting Average vs Brault |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Alford | .000 | Riley Adams | .000 |
| Wilmer Difo | .000 | Alex Avila | .500 |
| Ben Gamel | .000 | Josh Bell | .000 |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes | .000 | Alcides Escobar | .000 |
| Colin Moran | .000 | Luis Garcia | .000 |
| Kevin Newman | .000 | Yadiel Hernandez | .000 |
| Hoy Park | .000 | Carter Kieboom | .000 |
| Michael Perez | .000 | Josh Harrison | .000 |
| Bryan Reynolds | .000 | Keibert Ruiz | .000 |
| Jacob Stallings | .000 | Adrian Sanchez | .000 |
| Yoshi Tsutsugo | .000 | Juan Soto | .000 |
| Cole Tucker | .000 | Andrew Stevenson | .000 |
| — | — | Lane Thomas | .500 |
| — | — | Ryan Zimmerman | .000 |
Washington catcher Alex Avila is 1-for-2 (.500) with an RBI when facing Brault. Nationals centerfielder Lane Thomas is also 1-2 (.500) with an RBI.
Lane Thomas…slides into 1st?
Lane Thomas steals 2nd.
Lane Thomas advances to 3rd.
Lane Thomas comes home to score.
Lane Thomas is a 1-man rally.#NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/rEtuJZottV— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 8, 2021
No Pittsburgh batter has ever faced Gray.
Nationals vs Pirates Pick
Not only has Washington won five in a row against Pittsburgh, the Nationals have outscored the Pirates 32-6 in those five games. Pitsburgh has scored more than one run just twice over the past seven games against Washington. The Pirates have tallied more than two runs on one occasion over that seven-game run. Washington is 6-1 in that seven-game stretch.
The Nats have two in a row and three of their last four games at PNC Park. The Pirates are the only MLB team that hasn’t swept a series this season. They lost 5-1 to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, costing Pittsburgh a chance to sweep the three-game set.
Entering Thursday’s game with the Atlanta Braves, Washington was 9-24 since August 2. Pittsburgh’s 110 home runs are the lowest total in the NL. The Pirates are also last in the league in in runs (509), RBI (480), slugging percentage (.362), and OPS (.668).
Washington owns the NL’s best batting average (.254), on-base percentage (.327) and OPS (.802) this season against left-handed starters. The Nats are second in the league in SLG (.448) against lefties.
Pick: Washington Nationals moneyline (+110)
Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
