The Chicago Cubs are going for their fourth win in a row when they play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field. The action gets going at 2:20 p.m. ET and you can catch the game on either WLS or ATPT.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates have gone 31-32 SU this year and are 28-34 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 3.0 units for moneyline bettors and 7.4 units ATS. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 36-24 SU and 29-30 ATS. They’ve lost 1.4 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 0.1 units ATS.
Chicago games have an over/under record of 25-33-1 so far in 2018. The Pirates have an over/under record of 30-26-6.
Right-hander Nick Kingham will get the nod for Pittsburgh. Kingham is 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He’s 0-0 with four strikeouts and a 4.76 ERA against Chicago this year.
The Cubs are sending lefty Jon Lester (6-2, 2.44 ERA) to the mound. Lester has 61 punchouts and 25 walks to his name, as well as a 1.16 WHIP. Lester is 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 6.55 ERA over two starts against Pittsburgh this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have given up 3.6 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has an ERA of 3.60, a WHIP of 1.31 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 2.62, a WHIP of 1.20 and a K/9 of 9.2. In 25 games against divisional opponents, Cubs starters have an ERA of 2.27 and the bullpens ERA is 2.77.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.7 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .228/.299/.336 over its last five contests and is 4-1 SU during that span.
The Cubs batters have been led by Kris Bryant, who is slashing .301/.406/.514 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs and 35 runs scored.
For the visitors, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.6 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.21 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.55 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.39, along with a K-per-9 of 9.51.
Pirates hitters have slashed .255/.328/.416 on their way to 4.6 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the teams last five outings (1-4 SU).
Corey Dickerson has led Pittsburgh’s offense. Dickerson is slashing .321/.356/.487 with five home runs, 32 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
The Cubs are coming off a 3-1 win in the prior game of this series.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Free Prediction
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Chicago’s last seven games.
- Both teams have hit nine home runs over their last 10 games.
- Chicago has posted 24.9 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 outings and 17.0 over its last five.
- The Pirates have lost five of their last six games SU while the Cubs have won seven of their last eight SU.
