Miami Marlins @ Pittsburgh Pirates - September 11, 2024

As I prepare for Wednesday’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins at PNC Park, it’s clear that we’re in for an intriguing contest. The Pirates are looking to extend their current winning streak, having just secured a 6-4 victory against the Marlins on September 10. This will be a rematch of sorts, and based on recent trends and statistics, I’m leaning toward the Pirates continuing their success.

Let’s start with the pitching matchup. The Pirates will send out Bailey Falter, who has a 7-7 record and an ERA of approximately 4.2 this season. While those numbers may not jump off the page, they do suggest consistency—especially when you consider his ability to strike out batters at a rate of over 8 strikeouts per nine innings. On the other side is Jonathan Bermúdez from Miami, who hasn’t yet recorded a win this season (0-0) but holds an ERA of around 4.8 with a similar strikeout rate to Falter’s.

The key takeaway here is that while both pitchers have been serviceable, Falter appears to have the edge in terms of experience and overall performance metrics this year. With Pittsburgh as -196 favorites according to oddsmakers, it indicates that they are expected to come out on top against a struggling Miami team.

Speaking of struggles, let’s look at how these teams stack up offensively. The Pirates average approximately 4.2 runs per game with about 8 hits and just over 4 RBIs each outing—numbers that reflect moderate offensive productivity but still point towards potential scoring opportunities against Bermúdez’s higher-than-average ERA. Meanwhile, the Marlins have averaged about 3.8 runs per game with slightly more hits (around 8), but they lag behind in RBIs at roughly 3.7 per game.

When considering both teams’ recent performances, it’s worth noting that Miami has struggled lately with only two wins in their last six games; they’ve also gone OVER in four of their last five matchups—a trend worth watching given our total set at 8.5 runs for tonight’s game.

In contrast, Pittsburgh has won three straight games and has seen five of its last seven outings go OVER as well—indicating both teams can contribute to high-scoring affairs when needed.

So what can we expect from this game? I predict that the Pirates will defeat the Marlins once again due to their slight advantages in both pitching consistency and batting performance overall this season. Additionally, given both teams’ propensity for hitting above their averages recently—particularly against less experienced pitchers—I foresee this matchup exceeding the total set at 8.5 runs.

In summary: bet on Pittsburgh securing another victory while also taking advantage of what looks like an opportunity for plenty of runs scored throughout tonight’s contest!