The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to avoid losing their fourth in a row as they play host to the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. The matchup will get going at 7:05 p.m. ET and WGN will televise the game.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Chicago (-130) is favored over Pittsburgh (+120) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this game at 8 runs. The odds for wagering on the games total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Bettors can also wager on the games runline with the odds sitting at Cubs -1.5 runs (+115) and Pirates +1.5 runs (-135).
The Pirates are 28-25 SU and 24-28 ATS. They’ve gained 1.1 units for moneyline bettors while earning 2.5 units against the spread (ATS). The Cubs, on the other hand, are 28-22 SU and have gone 22-27 ATS. Overall, the teams lost 6.0 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 5.7 units ATS.
Pittsburgh games have had an over/under record of 26-20-6 so far in 2018. Chicago has been a decent under bet with a total record of 21-27-1.
The left-handed Jon Lester is getting the nod for Chicago. Lester is 4-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with three strikeouts and a 7.20 ERA against Pittsburgh this year (four starts).
The Pirates are sending righty Nick Kingham (2-1, 3.44 ERA) to the mound. Kingham has 21 strikeouts and two walks to his name, as well as a 0.76 WHIP. Kingham hasn’t faced the Cubs yet this year and did not pitch in the majors in 2017.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has yielded 4.4 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The clubs starters have a 4.17 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.05 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. In 20 games against divisional foes, Pirates starters have an ERA of 3.28 and the bullpens ERA is 4.86.
The Pittsburgh hitters have put up 4.7 runs per contest, including 5.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .201/.235/.333 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Corey Dickerson has helped lead the Pirates offense this season with five home runs, 31 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Dickerson had a decline in production against lefty pitching at home last season. Across 65 such plate appearances, he slashed .279/.308/.393 (his overall season line was .282/.325/.490).
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 3.7 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 3.76 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.42 K/9. The bullpen has managed an excellent ERA of just 2.66, along with a K-per-9 of 9.17.
The Cubs offense has slashed .260/.344/.431 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.0 per game over the teams last five contests (3-2 SU).
Chicago’s hitters have been paced by Javier Baez. Baez is hitting .269/.300/.570 with 13 home runs, 42 RBIs, 32 runs and seven steals.
The Cubs just took the previous game in the series by a final score of seven runs to zero.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Cubs have hit 11 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit eight over their last 10.
- Pittsburgh has posted 19.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 16.2 over its last five.
- The Pirates have lost four of their last five games SU.
