The Chicago Cubs will be taking on their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The game gets going at 1:35 p.m. ET and the matchup will be shown on either WLS or ATPT.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Chicago (+105) is entering this game as the underdog against Pittsburgh (-115) and Vegas has set the Over/Under for this one at 8.5 runs. The odds for wagering on the game’s total stand at -110 for both the over and the under. Gamblers can also bet on the game’s spread with the runline odds standing at -200 for the Cubs +1.5 runs and +170 for the Pirates -1.5.
The Cubs have gone 71-51 SU this year and are 60-61 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 2.1 units for moneyline bettors, despite having lost 1.0 unit ATS. Chicago has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 62-62 SU and 59-64 ATS. They’ve lost 1.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 9.3 units ATS. Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS record over its last seven outings and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Pirates games have a 58-57-8 over/under record in 2018. Chicago has been a decent under bet with a total record of 54-64-3.
Jose Quintana will get the start for the visiting Cubs. The southpaw Quintana is 10-9 with a 4.46 ERA and 110 strikeouts. He has yet to face Pittsburgh this year, but he made two starts against the team in 2017, compiling a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA and 15 strikeouts.
The Pirates are handing the ball to righty Jameson Taillon (9-9, 3.66 ERA), who has 123 strikeouts and 36 walks, as well as a 1.23 WHIP. Taillon is 1-0 with two strikeouts and a 4.05 ERA in one start against Chicago this year.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have yielded 4.5 runs per game overall this year. Its starting pitching staff has a 4.14 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. In 50 games against divisional opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 3.28 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.63.
The Pittsburgh offense is putting up 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 1.8 per game over its last five. The team has hit .253/.326/.304 over its last five matchups and is 1-4 SU during that span.
Outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte have led the Pirates’ hitters this year. Dickerson is hitting .307/.339/.486 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 52 runs scored, and Marte’s line sits at .276/.319/.463 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs, 63 runs and 28 stolen bases.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starters own a 4.16 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.64 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 3.24, along with a K-per-9 of 8.85.
The Cubs offense has slashed .262/.343/.417 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.3 runs per game against divisional foes and 2.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Second baseman Javier Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo continue to lead Chicago’s hitters. Baez is slashing .287/.319/.561 with 25 home runs, 89 RBIs, 74 runs and 19 steals, while Rizzo is hitting .264/.360/.441 with 18 homers, 78 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 2.9 units and are 45-49 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 42 of those games, compared to 49 that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 7.8 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over’s hit in 22 of those games, compared to 14 that went under the total.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- Chicago has recorded 12 extra-base hits over its last five games. Pittsburgh has six XBH over its last five.
- Chicago fielders have four errors over the last 10 games, compared to nine errors for Pittsburgh over its last 10.
- The Cubs have hit six home runs in their last 10 games, including five over their last five.
