Heading into game two of this National League matchup, it will be Bailey Falter on the mound for the Pirates (66-78, 34-38 home), facing off against the Nationals (65-79, 34-36 away) and Joan Adon. Find out my prediction for today’s Washington Nationals vs. Pittsburgh Pirates game in Pittsburgh.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS VS PITTSBURGH PIRATES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates -143

This game will be played at PNC Park at 6:35 ET on Tuesday, September 12th.

WHY BET THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES:

  • The Pirates have gone 6-4 in their ten games at home.
  • Over their previous ten games as the underdog, the Nationals are just 3-7 straight-up.
  • Joan Adon has struggled of late, coming in with an ERA of 6.53 over his last four starts.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS SEEK TO IMPROVE THEIR ROAD RECORD

On a record of 65-79, the Nationals come into today’s game 5th in the NL East. When playing at home, they are 31-43 and 34-36 on the road. Washington has played in 47 series thus far, and have gone 19-25-3.

Through eight games, Joan Adon has a .400 slugging percentage allowed and a 1.24 WHIP. His record stands at 2-1 with an ERA of 5.56, and he has totaled 29 strikeouts, averaging 7.68 per nine innings. On the road, Adon is 2-0 with an ERA of 1.50; at home, he is 0-1 with an ERA of 8.22.

In his latest start, Joan Adon squared off against the Mets and yielded two runs on six hits over five frames. Despite not getting credited with a win or loss, the Nationals emerged victorious in the 3-2 contest.

For the season, the Nationals’ offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game. Over their last five games they have swung the bats well, sitting 10th in the league in scoring, with a total of 24 runs. Overall, Washington’s team batting average is .256, putting them 7th in the MLB.

The Nationals’ offensive leader, Lane Thomas, has been a consistent presence in the lineup this season. His .280 batting average is complemented by a .480 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .329.

WILL THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS AT HOME?

Entering game 145 of their season, the Pirates are 14.5 games out in the NL Central and are in 4th place. So far, their overall series record stands at 16-25-5. Pittsburgh’s road winning percent is currently 44.4% (32-40) compared to 47.2% at home (34-38).

Bailey Falter’s 2023 campaign has been a mixed bag. Across 15 appearances, the right-hander has a slugging percentage allowed of .466 and enters with a WHIP of 1.34. His overall record stands at 1-8 with an ERA of 4.65, while he has racked up 54 strikeouts, averaging 6.78 per nine innings. When on the road, Falter is 0-5 with an ERA of 3.95; at home, his record is 1-3 with an ERA of 5.81.

Bailey Falter recently faced the Brewers, surrendering no runs and one hit in 3 2/3 innings. Although he did not earn a decision, the Pirates emerged victorious with a 5-4 final score.

This season, the Pirates are 23rd in the league at 4.2 runs per game. Over their last ten games, they have a combined batting average of .244 (19th) leading to 4.1 runs per contest. Overall, they are generating 3.4 walks per game compared to 8 strikeouts. Pittsburgh’s on-base percentage of .312 has them 18th in the MLB.

Jack Suwinski has been a major contributor to the Pirates’ offense this season, leading the team in home runs over their last ten games with two and boasting a total of 24 for the year. His batting average sits at .210.