Matchup: Toronto Blue Jays vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: SportsNet Pittsburgh
Betting Odds: Toronto (-160) Pittsburgh (+132)
The Toronto Blue Jays (73-53) are set to visit PNC Park on Wednesday as they face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (53-73). The odds for this encounter place the Blue Jays at -160, while the Pirates sit at +132. The over/under for the game is set at 8.5 runs, with Chris Bassitt and Braxton Ashcraft taking the mound.
The Toronto Blue Jays are scoring an impressive average of 4.9 runs per game, ranking 7th in Major League Baseball. Overall, they’ve accumulated 617 runs and boast an on-base percentage of .338. The team has achieved 227 doubles and hit 148 home runs, amassing 593 RBIs and a total of 1,155 hits this season, with a batting average of .268. Their slugging percentage stands at .429, and they have recorded 848 strikeouts while drawing walks 413 times.
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The Blue Jays currently hold a team earned run average of 4.24, ranking them 22nd in the league, while their pitchers have struck out 1,111 batters. On the season, Blue Jays pitchers have allowed 170 home runs and 567 total runs (also 22nd in MLB). They have walked 404 opposing hitters and possess a Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) of 4.36 this year. The team has surrendered 1,008 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and accumulated 526 earned runs. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.75, and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.27.
The Blue Jays bullpen has faced batters on base 129 times and has made 125 high-leverage appearances. They have achieved 75 holds this season, which ranks 11th in the league. With a save percentage of 64.8%, they have entered 132 save situations and completed 35 saves, failing to convert 19 of 54 opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 188 runners this season, with a 29.8% scoring rate. So far, 434 relief pitchers have taken the mound for the Blue Jays this year.
Defensively, Toronto has converted 70.4% of balls in play into outs over 10,050 innings, placing them 12th overall. They have recorded 3,350 putouts, 939 assists, and committed 70 errors, maintaining a fielding percentage of .984, ranking 24th in the league. This season, they have turned 88 double plays.
Bassitt (career record 83-62) has a FIP of 3.61 and has faced 5,274 batters throughout his career. He’s given up 1,156 hits (averaging 8.3 hits per nine innings) and allowed 396 walks. His earned run average stands at 3.66 (with 507 earned runs allowed), and he has a WHIP of 1.245. Over 1,246 innings pitched in the majors, Bassitt has tallied 1,157 strikeouts.
The Pirates, on the other hand, have recorded 88 home runs and driven in 428 RBIs this season. They have achieved 177 doubles, walked 401 times, and scored 444 runs. The Pirates hold an on-base percentage of .303, along with a team batting average of .232. Their slugging percentage is .345, with a league-low average of 3.52 runs scored per game. They have struck out 1,090 times, ranking 7th in MLB, compiling a total of 968 hits.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.239 and a FIP of 3.94 for the season. They rank 11th in the league for total hits allowed, totaling 1,006. The Pirates’ pitchers have allowed a total of 528 runs, 496 of which were earned, giving them a 4.02 team ERA. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is an impressive 7.90 (975 strikeouts to 370 walks), and they have surrendered 122 home runs, allowing 4.28 runs per 9 innings (14th in MLB).
This season, Pittsburgh relievers have been called on in 47 save opportunities, converting 26 saves for a save percentage of 55.3% and employing 392 pitchers out of the bullpen. The relievers have made 125 high-leverage appearances and entered with base runners 117 times, inheriting 183 runners with a 37.2% scoring rate. In 104 save situations, the Pirates have recorded 55 holds along with 21 blown saves.
In 9,999 innings played, the Pirates have achieved a defensive efficiency of 70.7%, ranking 9th overall. They have turned 90 double plays and maintain a fielding percentage of .987, which is 14th in MLB. Pittsburgh has accumulated 1,047 assists, committed 59 errors, and tallied 3,333 putouts throughout the season.
Ashcraft (3-2 career win-loss record) brings a 3.06 ERA, having allowed 8.7 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 2.85, facing 177 batters in his career. He has given up 14 earned runs, with a WHIP of 1.286 and a FIP of 3.0. Throughout his career, Ashcraft has permitted 40 hits and has struck out 37 batters across 41 innings.
Who will emerge victorious in tonight’s MLB battle against the spread or moneyline?
Josh Schonwald’s Prediction: Back Toronto (-160)
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