Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates Forecast, 8/18/2025 MLB Predictions, Top Bets & Odds

Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Scheduled Date: Monday, August 18, 2025

Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Broadcast: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Betting Odds: Toronto (-160) Pittsburgh (+132)

The Toronto Blue Jays (71-51) will visit PNC Park on Monday, aiming to secure a victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71). The current betting odds position Toronto at -160, while Pittsburgh sits at +132. The projected total for this matchup is set at 9 runs. Scheduled to pitch are Kevin Gausman for Toronto and Paul Skenes for Pittsburgh.

The Toronto Blue Jays are scoring an impressive 4.8 runs per game, ranking them 7th in Major League Baseball. So far this season, they have totaled 591 runs with an on-base percentage of .337. The team has recorded 221 doubles and hit 140 home runs. To date, they have amassed 567 RBIs and 1,116 hits, boasting a batting average of .268. With a slugging percentage of .426, they have struck out 816 times against 403 walks.

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Toronto’s pitching staff has a K/BB ratio of 2.82 and maintains a WHIP of 1.26. The team has given up 164 home runs and a total of 545 runs (ranking them 21st in MLB). The Blue Jays have surrendered 975 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and 506 earned runs, holding a team ERA of 4.21 (also 21st in MLB). This staff has struck out 1,081 batters while walking 384, with a FIP rating of 4.31.

Blue Jays’ relievers have entered the game 125 times with runners on base, facing high-leverage situations 122 times. The bullpen has accumulated 75 holds this season, ranking 10th in the league. Toronto’s bullpen has a save percentage of 64.8% from 131 save opportunities, converting 35 saves while missing 19 of 54 potential saves. This unit has inherited 183 base runners, with 29.5% scoring. A total of 418 different relief pitchers have taken the mound for the Blue Jays this season.

With 9,735 innings played, Toronto has converted 70.4% of balls in play into outs, placing them 12th in MLB. The team has recorded 3,245 putouts, 893 assists, and 66 errors, resulting in a fielding average of .984 (24th in MLB), and completed 85 double plays.

On the mound, Gausman has pitched 1,860 innings, logging 1,903 strikeouts throughout his career. He has a career ERA of 3.84 (allowing 793 earned runs) and a WHIP of 1.244. Gausman has given up 1,790 hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and issued 525 walks. With a career record of 110-111, his FIP stands at 3.78, having faced 7,785 batters in the majors.

On the other side, the Pirates have a batting average of .232 and score an average of 3.54 runs per game, which ranks them 30th in the league. They have 168 doubles, 388 walks, and have posted 432 runs this season. Pittsburgh has hit 86 home runs and accumulated 418 RBIs, while striking out 1,054 times (6th in the league) with a total of 942 hits. Their on-base percentage currently stands at .304.

The Pirates pitching staff has allowed 517 runs with a team ERA of 4.06 (486 earned runs). They have conceded 122 home runs and allow 4.32 runs per 9 innings (16th in the league). The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.242 and a FIP of 3.97 for the season, maintaining a K/BB ratio of 7.90 with 947 strikeouts against 359 walks. They rank 13th in MLB for total hits allowed, having given up 979 hits.

This season, Pittsburgh has been presented with 100 save opportunities and secured 54 holds, along with 19 blown saves. Pirates’ relievers have faced 44 save opportunities, converting 25 into saves. Their bullpen has been utilized in 118 high-leverage situations and 112 times with runners on base. The inherited runners scoring percentage stands at 36.7% out of 177 inherited runners. This unit holds a save percentage of 56.8%, ranking 24th in MLB, and has seen 379 relievers take the mound this season.

The Pirates have turned 87 double plays this season with a fielding percentage of .987 (11th in MLB). They recorded 1,009 assists, committed 56 errors, and made 3,231 putouts over 9,693 innings played, exhibiting a defensive efficiency of 70.8% (10th in baseball).

Throughout his MLB career, Skenes has allowed 200 hits, achieving 336 strikeouts in 281 innings pitched. He has given up 64 earned runs with a WHIP of 0.954 and a FIP of 2.0. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is at 4.94, having faced 1,095 opposing batters during his professional baseball career. Skenes, with an 18-12 career win-loss record, boasts a 2.05 ERA, allowing 6.4 hits per 9 innings.

Who will come out on top in tonight’s MLB matchup against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn’s Selection: Opt for Pittsburgh (+132)

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