Blue Jays vs. Pirates Prediction, Computer Picks, Odds & Pitching Matchup 9/4/2022

The Pittsburgh Pirates (49-82) will try to end their three-game losing streak when they host the Toronto Blue Jays (71-59) on Sunday at 12:05 PM ET. Sportsbooks consider the Blue Jays to be -204 favorites for the contest, while the Pirates are +170 underdogs looking for the upset. Ross Stripling gets the starting nod for Toronto while JT Brubaker is Pittsburgh’s starter for the contest.

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Blue Jays vs. Pirates

We have the Pirates on the moneyline at +170 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after taking a look at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8 runs.

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+170) and Over (8)

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Game Info

• Toronto Blue Jays probable starting pitcher: Ross Stripling
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: JT Brubaker
• Game Day: Sunday, September 4, 2022
• Game Time: 12:05 PM ET
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: PNC Park

Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Blue Jays Starter Ross Stripling

• Stripling gets the start for the Blue Jays, his 19th of the season. He is 6-4 with a 2.94 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 101 innings pitched.
• The righty’s last time out came on Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels, when he went 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three earned runs while giving up seven hits.
• The 32-year-old has an ERA of 2.94, with 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings, in 26 games this season. Opponents have a .234 batting average against him.
• Stripling is aiming to notch his fourth quality start in a row in this matchup.
• Stripling will aim to pitch five or more innings for his fourth straight appearance. He’s averaging 3.3 innings per outing.
• He will face a Pirates offense that ranks 28th in the league with 463 runs while batting .220 as a unit. It has a collective .360 slugging percentage (28th in MLB action) and has hit a total of 128 home runs (18th in MLB).

Pirates Starter JT Brubaker

• The Pirates will send Brubaker (3-11) to the mound for his 25th start this season.
• The right-hander’s last appearance was on Tuesday, Aug. 23, when he threw 6 2/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves, giving up six earned runs while allowing nine hits.
• The 28-year-old has pitched in 24 games this season with an ERA of 4.39 and 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings, with an opponent batting average of .266.
• In 24 starts this season, he’s earned seven quality starts.
• Brubaker has pitched five or more innings in three straight games and will look to extend that streak.
• The Blue Jays rank eighth in MLB with 604 runs scored this season. They have a .260 batting average this campaign with 159 home runs (ninth in the league).

Blue Jays Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Blue Jays have won 61 out of the 109 games, or 56%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Toronto has entered 35 games this season favored by -204 or more and is 19-16 in those contests.
• Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Blue Jays have a 67.1% chance to win.
• So far this season, Toronto and its opponents have hit the over in 67 of their 130 games with a total.
• The Blue Jays are 56-74-0 ATS in their 130 games with a spread this season.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have been underdogs in 114 games this season and have come away with the win 40 times (35.1%) in those contests.
• Pittsburgh has a mark of 12-27 in contests where oddsmakers favor them by +170 or worse on the moneyline.
• Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Pirates have a 37% chance of pulling out a win.
• Pittsburgh and their opponents have hit the over in 59 of their 133 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Pirates have posted a record of 65-68-0 against the spread this season.

Blue Jays Leaders & Batting Stats

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. paces the Blue Jays with 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in.
• In all of the majors, Guerrero is 15th in home runs and 16th in RBI.
• George Springer is batting .265 with 17 doubles, three triples, 19 home runs and 43 walks.
• Springer ranks 47th in home runs and 74th in RBI on the season.
• Alejandro Kirk paces the Blue Jays with a .293 batting average.
• Bo Bichette has 34 doubles, 18 home runs and 33 walks while hitting .265.
• Bichette is riding a two-game hitting streak into this one. In his last five games he is hitting .350 with three doubles, a home run, a walk and five RBI.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates in home runs (21), runs batted in (48) and has put up a team-high batting average of .253.
• Reynolds ranks 37th in homers and 115th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes is hitting .242 with 20 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 40 walks.
• Hayes ranks 234th in home runs and 191st in RBI among all major league hitters this year.
• Ben Gamel has 18 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 36 walks while batting .243.
• Michael Chavis is batting .237 with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs and 14 walks.