Blue Jays vs. Pirates Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/2/2022

The Toronto Blue Jays (70-59) are set to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (49-81) Friday at 6:35 PM ET. The Blue Jays are listed as -246 favorites by oddsmakers, while the underdog Pirates have +205 odds for the contest. Alek Manoah takes the mound for Toronto while Johan Oviedo is Pittsburgh’s starter for the contest.

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Pirates

After looking at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup, our best bet is the Pirates on the moneyline at +205. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+205) and Over (8)

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Game Info

• Toronto Blue Jays probable starting pitcher: Alek Manoah
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Johan Oviedo
• Game Day: Friday, September 2, 2022
• Game Time: 6:35 PM ET
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: PNC Park

Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Blue Jays Starter Alek Manoah

• Manoah makes the start for the Blue Jays, his 26th of the season. He is 12-7 with a 2.60 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 155 2/3 innings pitched.
• In his last appearance on Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, the right-hander went seven innings, giving up one earned run while surrendering four hits.
• In 25 games this season, the 24-year-old has put up an ERA of 2.60, with 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .212 against him.
• Manoah is aiming for his third quality start in a row.
• Manoah will look to extend a 26-game streak of pitching five or more innings (he’s averaging 6.1 innings per outing).
• The opposing Pirates offense has a collective .220 batting average, and is 29th in the league with 940 total hits and 28th in MLB action with 463 runs scored. It has the 28th-ranked slugging percentage (.361) and ranks 18th in home runs (128) in all of MLB.
• The 24-year-old’s 2.60 ERA ranks eighth, 1.028 WHIP ranks 13th, and 8.5 K/9 ranks 25th among qualifying pitchers this season.

Pirates Starter Johan Oviedo

• The Pirates will send Oviedo to the mound for his second start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched out of the bullpen on Saturday, July 30, when he threw one scoreless inning without allowing a hit to the Washington Nationals.
• He has pitched in 14 games this season with an ERA of 3.20, a 3.714 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.303.
• The Blue Jays have scored 600 runs this season, which ranks seventh in MLB. They have 1146 hits, sixth in baseball, with 158 home runs (ninth in the league).

Blue Jays Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Blue Jays have been favored 107 times and won 59, or 55.1%, of those games.
• This season, Toronto has won 11 of its 21 games, or 52.4%, when favored by at least -246 on the moneyline.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 71.1% chance of a victory for the Blue Jays.
• Games involving Toronto have gone over the total set by sportsbooks in 67 of 128 chances this season.
• The Blue Jays are 54-74-0 against the spread this season.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have won in 40, or 35.7%, of the 112 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs in this year.
• Pittsburgh has a win-loss record of 7-12 when favored by +205 or worse by sportsbooks this year.
• The Pirates have an implied victory probability of 32.8% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Pittsburgh and their opponents have gone over in 59 of their 131 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Pirates are 65-66-0 against the spread in their 131 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Blue Jays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. paces the Blue Jays with 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in.
• Among all MLB hitters, Guerrero ranks 28th in batting average, 35th in on-base percentage, and 14th in slugging.
• Guerrero takes a hitting streak of three games into this game. In his last five games he is hitting .333 with two doubles, a home run, a walk and two RBI.
• George Springer is batting .266 with 17 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 42 walks.
• Of all MLB hitters, Springer ranks 44th in homers and 73rd in RBI.
• Alejandro Kirk has accumulated a team-high batting average of .296.
• Kirk will look to build on his two-game hitting in this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .167 with a home run, four walks and three RBI.
• Bo Bichette is hitting .260 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 33 walks.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bryan Reynolds leads the squad with a batting average of .256, while leading the Pirates in home runs, with 21 and runs batted in with 48.
• Among all hitters in the majors, Reynolds’ home run total is 36th and his RBI tally ranks 109th.
• Reynolds carries a four-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is hitting .300 with a triple and a walk.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes is hitting .243 with 20 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 40 walks.
• Among all MLB hitters, Hayes is 231st in home runs and 189th in RBI.
• Ben Gamel is batting .243 with 18 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 36 walks.
• Michael Chavis is hitting .242 with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 14 walks.