All of a sudden the Pirates are sliding losing 3 of 4 since the break. The same thing happened last year and I just do not think this team will be able to hold up, particularly away from home where they are just not built to win. This is an interesting match up when you look at it closer as the Rockies are 7th vs. LHP in OPS and are scoring 5.58 runs per 9 vs. LHP at home as they face off against Eric Bedard. Bedard has struggled big time and posts a 7.99 ERA over his last 5 game starts and a 9.51 in his last 5 road starts and now he faces one of the better LHP hitting teams.
On the flip side Christian Friedrich has pitched a lot better of late and has been victim of some bad luck this year as is evident by his 3.66 xFIP and 8.79 k/9 stat. He's been victim of .367 BABIP and 66.3 LOB%. The Pirates have been hot with the bats, but I see that continuing to slow down. The Pirates are 26-69 in their last 98 road games vs. a LH starter and 5-12 in their last 17 in Colorado.
I love this pick, both offenses are oddly similar. Both are ranked 24th in terms of OPS and in terms of who they face today. The Rays are 24th vs. RHP, and the Indians are 24th vs. LHP. The difference however comes in the starting pitching. Josh Tomlin is much more polished walking just 2.27 guys per 9 while Matt Moore has been highly inconsistent with his 4.52 BB/9 and had 5 BB's and gave up 5 runs vs. the Indians before the All Star break. I don't see much changing here as the Indians are #1 in BB's and Moore has yet to proven he can go more than 5 innings with control. Add that with the fact that the Indians are second in OPS for July with an .865 OPS and the Rays are 25th with a .667 OPS and I don't think Moore will get his revenge tonight.
