New York Mets @ Pittsburgh Pirates - July 5, 2024

As a former sports statistician, I can’t help but get excited about tonight’s matchup between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Mets. The numbers tell an interesting story that may surprise some fans.

On the mound for the Pirates is Paul Skenes, with a perfect 4-0 win-loss record. Despite his solid record, his 4.1 ERA suggests he has had some shaky outings. However, with an impressive 8.5 strikeouts per game, he has shown the ability to keep hitters at bay.

Opposing him is Luis Severino of the Mets, boasting a slightly better 5-2 win-loss record but with a similar ERA of 4.2. Severino also racks up strikeouts at a rate of 8.8 per game, making him a formidable opponent for the Pirates’ lineup.

Speaking of lineups, let’s dive into the batting stats. The Pirates have been scoring an average of 4 runs per game on 7.7 hits with nearly 4 RBIs. Their batting average sits at .222 with an on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .641. While these numbers may not jump off the page, they have been doing enough to support their pitching staff.

On the other side, the Mets have been more productive offensively, averaging close to 5 runs per game on 8.7 hits and over 4 RBIs. With a higher batting average of .243 and an OPS of .722, they have been finding ways to generate runs consistently.

Given these statistics and our prediction that the Pirates will come out on top tonight, we can expect a close game with both pitchers keeping hitters in check early on. However, as the game progresses, look for the Pirates’ lineup to capitalize on opportunities and put runs on the board against Severino.

In terms of betting trends, our prediction leans towards taking the over in this game based on both teams’ offensive capabilities and potentially vulnerable pitching staffs.

Overall, it should be an exciting matchup filled with strategic plays and key moments that could ultimately determine the outcome in favor of Pittsburgh. As always in baseball, anything can happen on any given night – but if I were a betting person (which I’m not), my money would be on the Pirates pulling out a hard-fought victory over the Mets tonight.