Pittsburgh Pirates Vs Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions, odd, preview 08/16/2021

by James Q

Sunday, Aug 15, 2021

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions, odd, preview 08/16/2021


Game Time: 10:10 pm ET, Monday, August 16th, 2021
Venue:  Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
Where to Watch: SportsNet LA, ATT SportsNet-PIT, SNLA Deportes


Season-to-Date Record:



Pirates:  42-75 (5th place, NL Central)
Dodgers:  71-46 (2nd place, NL West)

Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks:


DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Dodgers -160, Pirates +150 O/U:  8.5

BetMGM:  Dodgers +300 to win World Series


Key Injuries:


Pirates:  Bryse Wilson (fatigue) Out, Anthony Alford (back) Out

Dodgers: Justin Turner (groin) Day to Day, Julio Urias Out, Clayton Kershaw (forearm) Out  * They are clearly saving Clayton for the playoffs after successfully adding help on the mound at the trade deadline. LA wants Clayton fresh against opponents in the playoffs.  


Recent Lineups:



Pirates:

B. Gamel, LF
K. Hayes, 3B
B. Reynolds, CF
C. Moran, 1B
J. Stallings, C
R. Castro, 2B
G. Polanco, RF
K. Newman, SS

Dodgers:

T. Turner, 2B
M. Muncy, 3B
W. Smith, C
C. Seager, SS
A. Pollock, LF
C. Taylor, LF
C. Bellinger, CF
B. McKinney, RF

Statistical Leaders:


Pirates:

Batting Average: Bryan Reynolds (.309)

Hits:  Adam Frazier (125)

Home Runs:  Bryan Reynolds (21)

RBI:  Bryan Reynolds (71)

Stolen Bases:  Gregory Polanco (14)

Wins:  Tyler Anderson (5)

Saves:  Richard Rodriguez (14)

ERA:  Chad Kuhl (.443)  * 10 day IL

Dodgers:

Batting Average:  AJ Pollock (.304)

Hits:  Chris Taylor (113)

Home Runs:  Max Muncy (23)

RBI: Justin Turner (66)

Stolen Bases:  Chris Taylor (11)

Wins:  Julio Urias (13)  *10 day IL

Saves:  Kenley Jansen (23)

ERA:  Walker Buehler (.209)


Managers:

Pirates:  Derek Shelton, Ben Cherington GM
Dodgers: Dave Roberts, Team has no GM… but c’mon… it’s Andrew Friedman.


Recent Form:


The Pirates are 1-9 over their last ten games.  5 Overs and 5 Unders. The consensus is any Pirates bet is a long shot so you will always see a moneyline of  +180, +238, +177… don’t fall for it.  The Pirates and winning clash this year. They split a double header on Saturday with the Milwaukee Brewers 1-1,  They were swept by the St. Louis Cardinals 0-3 in a three-game series, they were swept by the Cincinnati Reds 0-4, and started the freefall with another loss to the Brewers.  If we look 12 games back they actually had a solid 10 game losing streak before that random win in the doubleheader. The Pirates odds are low no matter who they face.

The Dodgers are trying to catch the San Francisco Giants and stay ahead of the San Diego Padres.  The Pirates are barely an afterthought let alone a quality matchup. The Dodgers have gone 7-3 over their last ten games.  (results of the previous game, Sunday Vs the Mets, not in yet). 6 Unders, 3 Overs, and 1 Push.  They are 2-0 against the Mets, went 2-1 against the Phillies, 2-1 against the Angels, and 1-1 against the Houston Astros.  They are one of Major League Baseball’s best teams, like last season when they won it all. 


Statistical Comparison:



The Pirates offense is atrocious. They are 30th in the league in runs scored per game 3.64, 22nd in batting average .236, and 23rd in On Base Percentage .306.  They aren’t hitting.  Whether home games or road games the Pirates rarely get run support. The hitters are playing “See you next April” baseball.  All except Bryan Reynolds who is a bright spot in the lineup. 

The Pirates pitchers are 28th in ERA at 5.08, 26th in runs prevented, 607, 20th in home runs prevented, 151.   

The Dodgers are 11th in batting average .245 (with Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts struggling), 3rd in runs scored at 605, and 6th in home runs.  The Dodgers seem to have all the momentum going toward the end of the season.  They added Trea Turner (a solid hitter) at the trade deadline and with Mookie and Cody improving from earlier injuries… whoever the AL sends to the World Series should worry.

Dodger ace Walker Buehler leads the entire league in pitching. 12-2, 2.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP.  He has been more than just some starter.  From the first pitch on, his stats are fire!  The team is first in ERA 3.10, 2nd in strikeouts 1176, and 1st in run defense 422.



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 Pirates vs Dodgers Game Preview:



The Dodgers are chasing The Giants not just for the NL Central lead, but for the soul of the league.  They can completely ignore the Colorado Rockies or Arizona Diamondbacks (yay, a rookie got a no-hitter… see ya next year) and focus fully on winning the NL West.  The Giants will be playing the New York Mets on the same day which makes it unlikely the Dodgers gain ground, but they certainly won’t lose any.


The Pirates will start Steven Brault 0-1, 3.00 ERA, 8 strikeouts in 9 innings pitched this year.  The 29 year old is 12-16 and 342 innings pitched for his entire MLB career (which debuted in 2016, after being drafted in 2013).  This feels like a last look to see if a middle reliever can find it in himself to make the jump to starter.  He is being thrown into the worst meat grinder a green starter can be put into.  


The Dodgers are starting “To Be Decided”... A guy who has seen action for every roster after every long, hot weekend this summer.  They know the Pirates aren’t going to be very tough so the Dodgers will simply see who, among the rested, is throwing well at warm-ups and start that guy.  I’d bet on TBD in this match-up every time.


If I checked all the MLB picks, even the premium picks, and cross-checked it with the weather Monday Night, the fatigue caused from Sunday games, and even monkeyed with the current line… the Full list of results would have no one favoring the Mets for any bet.


Notable quotes:



“When I was coming off the field and I was told that I was part of a Major League record, it's something that hits deep,....because that's what you dream about as a kid. Super honored and glad I was in there today and I was able to do that."  -Kevin Newman who hit 4 doubles in 4 at bats to help snap an eight game Pirates losing streak against the Mariners at PNC Park on Saturday.  


“I think everyone knows what’s on the line, what’s on the table...We just try and take care of our business and that’s the only thing we can control.” - Dodgers star (and league MVP) Cody Bellinger.  Saying a bunch of cliche baseball responses straight out of Bull Durham.




Pirates Vs Dodgers Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Monday, August 16th, 2021 is :   Dodgers 9 Pirates 2



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James Q

About the Author:

James Q. has been involved with sports and gambling his entire life. A former division 1 scholarship basketball player, James understands sports (and especially basketball) inside-and-out. Following his basketball playing days, James parlayed his gambling skills into a semi-pro poker career. James resides in Los Angeles, and especially loves the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Dodgers. And when he isn't betting on sports (and writing about it), James can be found performing stand-up comedy on the Sunset Strip.

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