Free MLB Picks Today: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Toronto Blue Jays 9/3/22

Trevor Richards is in line for his first start of the season as the Toronto Blue Jays (71-59) match up against the Pittsburgh Pirates (49-82) at PNC Park on Saturday. The Blue Jays took Friday’s series opener 4-0. Starter Alek Manoah threw 7.1 scoreless innings for the win. Bo Bichette was 3 for 5 with a home run and a double in the win. He drove in two runs. Matt Chapman added a double and one run, walking three times. Tyler Heineman went 2 for 3 with a double for the Pirates.

ON THE MOUND

Richards (3-1, 4.65 ERA) is slated to start for Toronto, his first of the season. The righty threw 1.1 scoreless innings in relief in his last appearance, a 7-5 road defeat against the Cubs on Wednesday. He struck out two. Richards is making his first appearance against the Pirates this season. Over two appearances (zero starts) against the Pirates in 2021, Richards was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA over 2.2 innings. He had five strikeouts and one walk. Righty Roansy Contreras (4-4, 3.57 ERA) gets the start for Pittsburgh. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Blue Jays. In his last start on Sunday, Contreras got the win on the road against the Phillies. He threw five scoreless innings and gave up three hits, striking out seven and walking two in the 5-0 victory.

AT THE PLATE

Over the last five games, Toronto has averaged 4.4 runs a game, a small drop compared to their season average of 4.6. Against right-handed pitchers like Contreras this season, the Jays have a .752 OPS, third highest in MLB. Alejandro Kirk has the team’s highest on-base percentage against right-handers at .386 over 425 at-bats. Pittsburgh is averaging only 3.0 runs per game in the last five, down slightly from 3.5 for the season. The Bucs have a .648 OPS against right-handers in 2022, third lowest in MLB. With a .806 OPS over 300 at-bats, Bryan Reynolds has been their best hitter against right-handers.

HOME AND AWAY

Toronto is on a four-game winning streak on the road, bringing their record to 33-30 in 2022. The Jays have scored 4.9 runs per game away from home, while allowing 3.9 runs. Pittsburgh has lost six in a row at their home park. The Bucs are 26-37 at home this season, averaging 3.8 runs per game while surrendering 5.4. Pittsburgh is 4-3 in seven games between the teams at PNC Park despite an average scoreline favoring Toronto (4.7-4.0).

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Blue Jays are third in the AL East, seven games behind the division-leading Yankees. The Pirates are fifth in the NL Central, 27 games behind the Cardinals.