Free Pick | MLB | Thursday | Sep. 5

#955/956 OVER 8 Washington Nationals (Irvin) at Pittsburgh Pirates (Falter) 5:40 PM CT

The Pirates were no-hit last night but there were three Chicago errors and some favorable scoring decisions to keep it a no-hitter. Pittsburgh did have some baserunners in the game and scored 10 runs to win the first two games in Chicago this week. Pittsburgh is 17-26 since leaving the All-Star Break as a .500 team. The pitching staff has let the team down with 5.3 runs per game allowed since the break and that is even with Paul Skenes still taking regular turns in the rotation. Bailey Falter had a nice first half of the season but owns a 5.54 ERA since the break including posting a 6.53 ERA in August. The Pirates own a 9.23 bullpen ERA with a 1.85 WHIP in the past 10 games and they will enter this series without an off day while getting just eight innings from starters the past two days. Washington’s competitive first half of the season has also faded away with an 18-24 record since the break, while allowing more than 5.1 runs per game. The Nationals have a 4.46 bullpen ERA In the past 10 games with a 1.38 WHIP, marginal numbers even if they look good next to Pittsburgh’s results. Jake Irvin has been a steady option for Washington with 161 innings and a 4.08 ERA, but his FIP is about a half-run higher than that and his ERA is 5.60 since the All-Star Break, while he endured a 6.61 ERA in August starts. Both starters appear to have run out of gas on the season while well past career highs on innings but there aren’t a lot of other options for the teams. Relying on these lineups to produce consistently on offense is a challenge but in three early season meetings these teams combined for 32 runs in three games. Pittsburgh has scored at least five runs six times in the past nine games while Washington has reached five runs four times in the past nine games with both teams hitting above .250 in the 10-game splits. Washington has hit .267 in the past five games as there should be enough opportunities to clear this total Thursday night.

Nelly’s Baseball passed today but we’ll look to add to an 8-3 run the past 10 days on Friday!

Nelly’s is also 13-3 in the NFL Week 1 the past four seasons!