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MLB 5/17 Preview: Pirates Vs. Tigers

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<div>
<h2>Pirates @ Tigers &#8211; First Pitch: 1:10 p.m.</h2>
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<div>Expected Forecast: Clear Sky, 54°</div>
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<div> </div>
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<p><span style="color: #0000ff;"><a style="color: #0000ff;" href="https://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb" target='_blank' rel="noopener"><strong>MLB</strong></a> </span>action heats up as the <strong>Pittsburgh Pirates</strong> square off against the <strong>Detroit Tigers</strong>. The Pirates will be sending <strong>Rich Hill</strong> to the mound, while the Tigers have their newly signed ace <strong>Eduardo</strong> <strong>Rodriguez</strong> ready to deliver. The game is lined at a <strong>-173</strong>, tipping the scales in favor of the Tigers despite their middling season.</p>
<p>The Pirates, fresh from a shutout in their last game, face the possibility of a repeat against Rodriguez. A fresh signee on a <strong>five-year, $77 million contract</strong>, Rodriguez is bringing his A-game, delivering performances reminiscent of the Tigers&#8217; last frontline ace, <strong>Justin</strong> <strong>Verlander</strong>, from mid-2015.</p>
<p>This game isn&#8217;t about the power of the lineup or the depth of position players. It&#8217;s about Rodriguez stepping up as the ace, going against oldman Rich Hill. Hill, however, deserves credit for his off-season mechanical adjustments that are starting to pay off.</p>
<p>Still, the odds look heavily stacked toward Detroit, given the mismatch on the mound. But, considering the recent form of both pitchers, a possible<strong> under</strong> also seems like a good bet.</p>
<p>Hill&#8217;s strategy of adjusting his mechanics from throwing junk to even more junk might work against right-handed batters. But against Rodriguez, it seems like a tall order. Over the last <strong>30 days</strong>, Rodriguez has an <strong>xFIP of 3.11</strong> and a <strong>strikeout percentage over 30%</strong>, making him a tough proposition for any batting lineup.</p>
<p>Furthermore, his splits are even more impressive. With a <strong>weighted on-base percentage</strong> (wOBA) in Major League Baseball of  <strong>.325 or higher means you&#8217;re doing your job</strong>, left-handed batters have found Rodriguez almost impossible to hit. In fact, of the 25 left-handed batters he&#8217;s faced over the past month, not a single one reached base, resulting in a <strong>zero wOBA</strong> and a <strong>zero ISO power number</strong>. Against right-handed batters, he&#8217;s equally formidable with a .<strong>184 wOBA</strong> and an <strong>ISO </strong>of<strong> .053</strong>.</p>
<p>The Pirates have their work cut out for them, as Rodriguez is delivering performances that make his $77 million contract seem like an absolute steal. So, if you&#8217;re looking to place a bet on this game, the <strong>Tigers</strong>, led by their in-form ace Rodriguez, seem like the smart choice.</p>
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<div class="game_preview_section sport_mlb" data-sr_id="38068065" data-sd_id="68835">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Spread, Total, Moneyline, and Odds:</h2>
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<div>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th width="150px"> </th>
<th colspan="2" width="100px">Spread</th>
<th colspan="2" width="100px">Total</th>
<th width="100px">Moneyline</th>
<th width="100px"> </th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"> Pirates</td>
<td rowspan="2" align="right">+1.5 </td>
<td align="right">-169 </td>
<td align="right">O 8 </td>
<td align="right">-105 </td>
<td align="center">+122</td>
<td> Open</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right">-152 </td>
<td align="right">7.5 </td>
<td align="right">-116 </td>
<td align="center">+147</td>
<td> Current</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="2"> Tigers</td>
<td rowspan="2" align="right">-1.5 </td>
<td align="right"> +141 </td>
<td align="right">U 8 </td>
<td align="right">-115 </td>
<td align="center">-143</td>
<td> Open</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="right"> +128 </td>
<td align="right">7.5 </td>
<td align="right"> -103 </td>
<td align="center">-173</td>
<td> Current</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Projected Lineups:</h2>
<h3>Pirates</h3>
<p><b>Starting Pitcher:</b> Rich Hill: 3-3, 4.36 ERA, 7.84 K/9</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">1.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">3B</td>
<td width="200px"> Ke&#8217;Bryan Hayes</td>
<td width="180px">  .235, 1 HR, 10 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">2.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">LF</td>
<td width="200px"> Bryan Reynolds</td>
<td width="180px">  .286, 5 HR, 23 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">3.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">DH</td>
<td width="200px"> Andrew McCutchen</td>
<td width="180px">  .246, 7 HR, 18 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">4.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">1B</td>
<td width="200px"> Carlos Santana</td>
<td width="180px">  .241, 2 HR, 21 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">5.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">RF</td>
<td width="200px"> Connor Joe</td>
<td width="180px">  .261, 5 HR, 13 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">6.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">2B</td>
<td width="200px"> Rodolfo Castro</td>
<td width="180px">  .250, 4 HR, 14 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">7.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">CF</td>
<td width="200px"> Ji Hwan Bae</td>
<td width="180px">  .239, 2 HR, 11 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">8.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">SS</td>
<td width="200px"> Chris Owings</td>
<td width="180px">  .111, 0 HR, 0 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">9.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">C</td>
<td width="200px"> Austin Hedges</td>
<td width="180px">  .150, 0 HR, 4 RBI</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Tigers</h3>
<p><b>Starting Pitcher:</b> Eduardo Rodriguez: 4-2, 1.57 ERA, 8.19 K/9</p>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">1.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">CF</td>
<td width="200px"> Matt Vierling</td>
<td width="180px">  .220, 2 HR, 10 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">2.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">RF</td>
<td width="200px"> Andy Ibáñez</td>
<td width="180px">  .271, 1 HR, 5 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">3.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">SS</td>
<td width="200px"> Javier Báez</td>
<td width="180px">  .254, 3 HR, 19 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">4.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">1B</td>
<td width="200px"> Spencer Torkelson</td>
<td width="180px">  .238, 3 HR, 18 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">5.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">LF</td>
<td width="200px"> Eric Haase</td>
<td width="180px">  .272, 2 HR, 12 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">6.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">2B</td>
<td width="200px"> Jonathan Schoop</td>
<td width="180px">  .213, 0 HR, 0 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">7.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">DH</td>
<td width="200px"> Miguel Cabrera</td>
<td width="180px">  .189, 0 HR, 4 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">8.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">3B</td>
<td width="200px"> Zack Short</td>
<td width="180px">  .294, 1 HR, 1 RBI</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" width="25px">9.</td>
<td align="center" width="35px">C</td>
<td width="200px"> Jake Rogers</td>
<td width="180px">  .192, 5 HR, 14 RBI</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Betting Insights:</h2>
</div>
<h3>Pirates</h3>
<ul>
<li>The Pittsburgh Pirates are 0-5 (.000) on the road as an underdog in their last five games in 2023</li>
<li>The over hit in 1 of the Pittsburgh Pirates last 5 games on the road in 2023</li>
</ul>
<h3>Tigers</h3>
<ul>
<li>The over hit in 1 of the Detroit Tigers last 5 games at home in 2023</li>
</ul>
</div>


Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Spread, Line, Odds, Predictions, Picks and Betting Preview

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