Josh Bell and the surging Pittsburgh Pirates will be hitting the diamond versus their NL Central rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in a Thursday showdown. The matchup will begin at 8:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will be showing the game.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates are 6-4 SU and have gone 5-4 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 1.0 unit for bettors taking the moneyline in this young season and 0.1 units ATS. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 3-8 SU and 3-7 ATS. The team’s lost 4.8 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 6.8 units ATS.
Chicago games have an over/under record of 8-1-1 thus far in 2019. Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 5-4.
Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA) is getting the start for the visiting Pirates. The right-handed Musgrove started 19 games last year while finishing the season 6-9 overall with a 4.06 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He made two starts against the Cubs in 2018 and compiled a 2-0 record against them with a 1.29 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
The Cubbies will be turning to lefty Jose Quintana (0-1, 10.29 ERA), who recorded 158 strikeouts over 174 innings last year (32 starts), while finishing the season 13-11 overall with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. He made two starts against Pittsburgh a year ago and compiled a 0-0 record with a 2.70 ERA and eight strikeouts.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 9.16 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.25, along with a K-per-9 of 12.00.
The Pirates offense has slashed .247/.337/.382 on its way to 3.9 runs scored per game in 2019, including over the team’s last five outings (4-1 SU).
Pittsburgh’s offense has been led by first baseman Josh Bell and second baseman Adam Frazier. Bell is hitting .297/.357/.541 with 11 hits, nine RBIs and five runs scored, while Frazier (.289/.386/.447) has produced 11 hits, three RBIs and five runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff has given up 6.9 runs per game overall in 2019. The club’s starters have a 6.52 ERA, 1.86 WHIP and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 6.34 ERA, 1.80 WHIP and 10.2 K/9. In five games against NL Central opponents, Cubs starters have an ERA of 7.97 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.37.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 6.7 runs per outing, including 7.6 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .246/.335/.453 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Right fielder Jason Heyward and shortstop Javier Baez have paced the Cubs’ hitters so far. Heyward is hitting .371/.452/.714 with 13 hits, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored, while Baez’s line is .271/.314/.542 with four homers, 10 RBIs and nine runs.
The Pirates have lost 1.0 units and are 0-1 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has hit in one of those games, compared to zero that’ve gone under against lefty starters. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 3.8 units and are 2-5 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in six of those games, as opposed to one which went under the total.
Pirates at Cubs Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in five of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have won five of their last six games SU.
- The Pittsburgh defense has coughed up nine errors over the last five outin, compared to only five errors for Chicago over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit eight home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
- The Pirates have a total OPS of .719 this season, including an OPS of .565 against left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS stands at .840 overall and .660 against lefties.
