The streaking Chicago Cubs will go for their fifth win in a row when they play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. WGN is in line to broadcast the action and the game is scheduled to get going at 2:20 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates have gone 31-33 SU this year and are 28-35 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 4.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.9 units ATS. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 37-24 SU and 30-30 ATS. They’ve lost 0.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline while gaining 1.1 units ATS.
Cubs games have had an over/under record of 25-34-1 so far in 2018. Pirates games have gone over 30 times, gone under 27 times and pushed on six occasions.
Right-hander Ivan Nova is projected to start for the visiting Bucs. Nova is 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA and 47 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA against Chicago this year (three starts).
The Cubs are sending righty Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.59 ERA) to the mound. Hendricks has 57 strikeouts and 17 walks to his name, as well as a 1.10 WHIP. Hendricks is 0-2 with eight strikeouts and a 3.27 ERA across two starts against Pittsburgh this year.
Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 3.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 3.52, a WHIP of 1.30 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.60, a WHIP of 1.19 and a K/9 of 9.2. In 26 games against divisional opponents, Cubs starters have an ERA of 2.16 and the bullpens ERA is 2.71.
The Chicago offense is putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over its last five. The team has a slash-line of .235/.313/.349 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Kris Bryant has helped lead the Cubs offense this year with eight home runs, 29 RBIs and 36 runs scored.
In the visiting dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.54 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 4.36, along with a WHIP of 1.26.
The Pirates offense has slashed .252/.325/.412 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Pittsburgh’s hitters have been spearheaded by Corey Dickerson. Dickerson is slashing .321/.356/.487 with five home runs, 32 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
The Cubs are coming off a 2-0 win in the prior game of this series.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Free Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- The under has cashed in four of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit six over their last 10.
- Pittsburgh has posted 18.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 18.2 over its last five.
- The Pirates have lost six of their last seven games SU while the Cubs have won eight of their last nine SU.
