Game: Kansas City Royals vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Kansas City Royals (80-67) are headed to PNC Park on Saturday to face the Pittsburgh Pirates (70-76). The pitchers expected to start are Michael Wacha and Mitch Keller.

The Royals as a team have posted 248 two-baggers and hit 162 balls out of the park. Kansas City has a slugging percentage of .415 and has been taken out of the game for strikes 1,022 times while walking 379 times. As a team, the Kansas City Royals score 4.7 runs per game, which ranks 10th in baseball. They have posted 673 RBIs this year, as well as 1,249 base hits, while their batting average is .253. They have scored 693 runs and have an on-base percentage of .310.

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They have posted a K/BB ratio of 2.82 and the pitching staff has a combined WHIP of 1.25. Royals pitchers have allowed a total of 135 home runs and 598 runs (8th in MLB). Kansas City has allowed 1,199 base hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and 556 earned runs. The Royals have a team earned run average of 3.87 for the year (10th in baseball) and their team has struck out 1,190 hitters. They have walked 422 opposing batters and their FIP as a team is 3.82 this year.

Royals relief pitchers have accumulated a 61.7% save rate and have entered the game in 130 save situations. Relief pitchers have taken on 201 runners so far this season, with 29.4% of those players scoring a run for their team. Royals pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 116 times and have had 132 appearances in high-pressure situations. The Royals have sent 455 relief pitchers to the mound this year. Relief pitchers have earned a total of 68 holds so far this year (24th in MLB). They have recorded 37 saves this year and have failed to capitalize on 23 of their 60 game-saving opportunities.

The Royals have turned 69.5% of balls in play into outs in their 11,643 innings, which ranks them 19th in professional baseball. The Kansas City Royals have 3,881 putouts over the course of the season, along with 1,303 assists and 73 errors. Their fielding percentage is .986, which ranks 8th in MLB, and they have 118 total double plays.

Wacha (100-61 in his career) has a 3.84 FIP while facing 6,063 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has allowed 1,390 hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) and 453 walks. His earned run average is 3.90 (623 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.281. Wacha has pitched 1,438 innings and has 1,275 strikeouts in his professional baseball career.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a team on-base percentage of .302 and a batting average of .235 this season. They have 1,340 strikeouts (5th in MLB) and have totaled 1,165 hits. Pittsburgh has 144 home runs this year and 597 RBIs. The Pirates have a slugging percentage of .372 and are averaging 4.24 runs per game (19th in the league). They have 214 two-baggers, issued 436 walks and scored 619 runs.

The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.311 and a team FIP of 4.05 this year. They currently rank 25th in baseball with 1,251 hits allowed. Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 664 runs so far this year and have a 4.13 ERA (596 earned runs allowed). Their K/BB ratio is 8.40 (1,219 strikeouts on 454 bases on balls). They have allowed 152 home runs and are giving up 4.60 runs per 9 innings (20th in the league).

The Pirates have 142 saves, 76 holds and 28 blown saves. Pittsburgh has had bullpen pitchers on the mound in 65 saves and has recorded 37 saves. Their relievers have been used in high-pressure situations 154 times and with runners on the field 119 times. Pittsburgh’s relievers have a 33.1% score rate on 178 runners taken. They rank 27th in MLB with a 56.9% save rate and have sent 454 relievers to the mound this season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 127 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in baseball). The Pirates have recorded 1,248 assists and 78 errors and have accumulated 3,902 putouts on the year. In their 11,706 innings played, the Pirates have a defensive efficiency of 68.6% (23rd in professional baseball).

In his MLB career, Keller has allowed 726 base hits and has 674 Ks in 686 innings. He has allowed 344 earned runs while having a WHIP of 1.407 and a FIP of 4.4. His K/BB ratio is 2.81 and he has faced 2,999 batters in his professional baseball career. Keller (career record 36-47) has a 4.51 earned run average and gives up 9.5 hits per nine innings.

Who will win today’s MLB game against the spread or the moneyline?

Tony Sinks tip: Take Kansas City

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