This is a 9* TOP IL TOTAL on the OVER Yankees/Pirates.

Both teams have been playing to several lower-scoring affairs of late, but we're expecting those trends to end this evening.

The Yanks look to get back on track after yesterday's 5-2 series opening loss. New York has lost two in a row and scored just two runs in the process. Overall though the Yankees average 5.0 RPG, ranked 2nd in the league.

Pittsburgh has been playing better of late and clearly it won't be rolling over. It's won four of its last six.

The Pirates hand the ball to Mitch Keller (2-5, 5.14 ERA), who owns a pedestrian 59 to 31 strikeout to walk ratio, while the visitors counter with Luis Severino (4-3, 3.35 ERA.)

Severino though has been much better at home (3-1, 2.65 ERA), compared to on the road (1-2, 4.45.)

Finally, note that the Yankees have seen the total go OVER the number in five of their last six in trying to revenge a loss against an opponent in which they were held to two or fewer runs in.

The situation and the numbers/trends all point to the OVER as the correct call in this one.

Good luck, NP