The Chicago Cubs will be facing off against their divisional rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The matchup will get underway at 7:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast the game.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Chicago (-120) is coming into this one as the favorite over Pittsburgh (+110) and Vegas has the Over/Under for this night game at 8.5 runs. Odds for betting on the games total sit at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the games spread with the current runline odds sitting at Cubs -1.5 runs (+125) and Pirates +1.5 runs (-145).
The Cubs are 29-22 SU and have gone 23-27 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 5.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 4.3 units ATS. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 28-26 SU and 24-29 ATS. The team has gained 0.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 4.2 units ATS.
Pittsburgh games have a 26-21-6 over/under record so far in 2018. Chicago has been a decent under bet with a total record of 21-28-1.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks is projected to start for the visiting Cubs. Hendricks is 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA and 51 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with seven strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Pittsburgh this year (three starts).
The Pirates are putting the ball in the right hand of Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP), who’s got seven strikeouts and zero walks this season. Musgrove has yet to face the Cubs this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have given up 4.5 runs per game overall this season. Its starters have an ERA of 4.19, a WHIP of 1.24 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.22 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.7 K/9. In 21 games against NL Central opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 3.35 and the bullpens ERA is 5.29.
The Pittsburgh offense has put up 4.7 runs per outing, including 5.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .229/.256/.373 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that span.
The Pirates offense has been led by outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte. Dickerson is slashing .309/.346/.487 with five home runs, 31 RBIs and 23 runs scored, and Marte’s line is .309/.361/.514 with seven homers, 23 RBIs, 32 runs and 10 stolen bases.
Compared to his total season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte enjoyed hitting against righties at home last year, slashing .374/.447/.565 across 132 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.43 K/9. The bullpen has managed an outstanding ERA of just 2.71, along with a WHIP of 1.33 and a K/9 of 9.12.
Cubs hitters have slashed .262/.346/.437 on their way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the teams last five contests (4-1 SU).
Third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Javier Baez continue to lead Chicago’s offense. Bryant is hitting .287/.401/.530 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Baez (.268/.299/.567) has produced 13 homers, 42 RBIs, 32 runs and seven stolen bases.
The Cubs have lost 6.7 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 15 of those games, compared to 21 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 0.3 units and are 20-22 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The overs hit in 18 of those games, as opposed to 18 that’ve cashed the under.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – UNDER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in five of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have lost five of their last six games SU.
- Pittsburgh has recorded 20.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 19.0 over its last five.
- The Cubs have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
