The Pittsburgh Pirates (19-40) and Cleveland Indians (34-25) meet in the regular-season finale at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET. We analyze the Pirates-Indians MLB betting odds and lines, with picks and best bets.
Pirates at Indians: Projected starting pitchers
RHP JT Brubaker vs. RHP Cal Quantrill
Brubaker heads into his final start with a 1-3 record, 4.46 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while posting 45 strikeouts across 42 1/3 innings over eight starts and two relief appearances.
- Brubaker faced the Indians on Aug. 18, allowing three earned runs, three hits and three walks in three innings in a no-decision in the Steel City.
- Two of the hits Brubaker allowed against the Indians in that mid-August start were doubles to 2B Cesar Hernandez and RF Tyler Naquin, and he threw just 31 of his 57 pitches for strikes.
Quantrill has not factored into a decision while posting a 1.54 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 11 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts in one start and six relief appearances since coming over from the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.
- Quantrill worked four scoreless innings with one hit allowed and one walk while striking out four batters in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday.
- Quantrill has allowed just one home run across his past 15 appearances over 23 1/3 innings since Aug. 1 when he was with the Padres.
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Pirates at Indians: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 10:25 a.m. ET.
Prediction
Indians 7, Pirates 3
Money line (ML)
The Indians (-139) are still playing for playoff seeding, and cannot afford to be tripped up by the lowly Pirates (+125) again. They took it on the chin 8-0 in Saturday’s game. You cannot afford to risk this kind of money for a small return. AVOID, and focus on the run line.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The INDIANS -1.5 (+130) are worth a small-unit bet with the steady Quantrill on the hill, even as their top starting pitchers are unavailable to get ready for the first round of the playoffs. The Pirates (+1.5, -154) are the worst team in baseball, and the Indians are playing for something on the final day. Cleveland should be able to win by at least two runs.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 8 (-110) is the way to go here, as Brubaker has been more than generous to opposing hitters, and the Pirates should be able to scratch across a few runs against Quantrill, too.
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