The Chicago Cubs will play their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will televise the action.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Vegas is listing Chicago (-130) as the favorite over Pittsburgh (+120). The total sits at 8.5 runs and bettors can wager on the over for +100 and the under for -120. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the most recent odds standing at +115 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and -135 for the Pirates +1.5.
The Pirates are 61-61 straight up (SU) and 57-64 against the spread (ATS). The team’s gained 0.3 units for moneyline bettors while earning 11.3 units (ATS). Pittsburgh has a 3-4 ATS mark over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 70-50 SU and have gone 60-59 ATS. Overall, the team’s accumulated 0.1 units for moneyline bettors and 1.0 unit ATS. Chicago is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the under has cashed in four of those seven.
Pirates games have a 58-55-8 over/under record in 2018. The Cubs have been a decent under bet with a total record of 54-62-3.
The left-handed Cole Hamels will get the nod for Chicago. Hamels is 7-9 with a 4.22 ERA and 134 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with nine strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA against Pittsburgh this year.
The Pirates are sending righty Trevor Williams (10-8, 3.66 ERA) to the mound. Williams has 82 punchouts and 41 walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 1.24. Williams is 1-0 with five strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in one start against Chicago this year.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.5 runs per game overall this season. The club’s starters have an ERA of 4.20, a WHIP of 1.31 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.2. The bullpen has a 4.21 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. In 48 divisional games, Pirates starters have an ERA of 3.38 and the bullpen’s ERA is 3.73.
The Pittsburgh hitters have produced 4.5 runs per contest, including 4.8 per game against divisional foes and 2.6 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .215/.273/.288 over its last five games and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
Outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte have led the charge for the Pirates’ batters this year. Dickerson is slashing .303/.333/.482 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 52 runs scored, and Marte’s line is .276/.320/.467 with 17 homers, 57 RBIs, 63 runs and 28 stolen bases.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.1 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.17 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 7.71 K/9. The bullpen has logged an ERA of 3.30, along with a WHIP of 1.37 and a K/9 of 8.86.
The Cubs offense has slashed .264/.345/.419 on its way to 4.9 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.5 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Chicago’s offensive production has been sparked by second baseman Javier Baez and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who have combined to belt 43 home runs. Baez is slashing .293/.325/.571 with 25 home runs, 89 RBIs, 74 runs and 19 steals. Rizzo is hitting .264/.362/.442 with 18 homers, 78 RBIs and 49 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 4.8 units and are 45-47 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has cashed in 42 of those games, compared to 47 that’ve hit the under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 5.8 units and are 14-21 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 22 of those games, as opposed to 12 which went under the total.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
