Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Pick: Will Oneil Cruz Struggle Against the Phillies?
The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-game series. Will Oneil Cruz struggle against the Phillies tonight? Ben Rajavuori provides his best Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies --player prop pick.
Ben Rajavuori - April 11, 2024, 4:43 PM EDT
5 minPittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Pick: Will Oneil Cruz Struggle Against the Phillies?
The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Philadelphia to open a four-game series from Citizens Bank Park. The Pirates enter this game with a 9-3 record, which is an impressive start for a team that has been struggling in recent years. The Phillies enter this game with a 6-6 record, with the bats starting slightly cold in Philly. What should we expect in Philly tonight?
Pirates vs. Phillies DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: April 11, 2024
- Start Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: MLB Extra Innings
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Prediction
This specific matchup with Ranger Suarez taking the mound against the Pirates instantly sparked my interest in this game with a certain pirate that struggles against lefties: Oneil Cruz.
Oneil Cruz is a young-gun shortstop for the Pirates who has started his season 14-17, hitting .298 over the first 12 games. However, his bugaboo has been lefty pitching, as he is a lefty hitter. While most lefty hitters struggle against the same-handed pitchers, Cruz has struggled and then some.
Although a small sample size, Cruz has started this season batting .133 in 16 plate appearances against lefty pitchers but is batting a much higher .375 against right-handed pitchers. He is slugging just .133 against lefties and .594 against righties.
These splits follow him back into 2022, his only season with more than 80 games played so far. In 2022, Cruz batted .158 against lefties but .265 against righties. He had an extremely high 53% strikeout rate in 111 plate appearances against lefties that year and just a 26% strikeout against righties in 250 plate appearances.
Tonight, Cruz faces a lefty in Ranger Suarez and I expect his struggles to continue. He is +120 to not record a hit, and while he should get an at-bat or maybe two against the bullpen, I doubt he gets a hit against Suarez tonight given his career numbers against lefty pitchers. I love the value at +120 here as well.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Philadelphia Phillies Player Prop Pick
Pick: Oneil Cruz Under .5 Hits +120 CLICK HERE TO SEE WHICH SPORTSBOOK HAS THE BEST ODDS
MLB ODDS
