The Pittsburgh Pirates will be facing off against their divisional rival Chicago Cubs in a Sunday matinee. The opening pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET and the action will be televised on WLS and ATPT.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates have gone 44-47 SU this year and are 48-42 against the spread (ATS). They’ve accumulated 5.6 units for moneyline bettors, despite having lost 1.9 units ATS. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 49-43 SU and 44-47 ATS. The team has lost 5.0 units for moneyline bettors and 2.2 units ATS.
Chicago games have a 45-40-6 over/under record so far in 2019. Pittsburgh has been a great over bet with a total record of 52-34-4.
Trevor Williams will get the start for Pittsburgh. The right-handed Williams is 3-2 with a 4.54 ERA and 57 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with four strikeouts and a 7.94 ERA against Chicago this year.
The Cubs are turning to Jose Quintana (6-7, 4.19 ERA). Quintana has 84 punchouts and 30 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.35. Quintana is 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA over two starts against Pittsburgh this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The team’s starters have a 3.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.24 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 8.8 K/9. In 33 games against divisional foes, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.87 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.32.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 5.1 runs per outing, including 5.1 per game against divisional foes and 6.4 per game over their last five. The team has slashed .284/.376/.544 over its last five games and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant have led the Cubs’ batters this year. Baez is slashing .290/.325/.553 with 22 home runs, 63 RBIs and 59 runs scored, and Bryant’s line is .293/.401/.552 with 18 homers, 45 RBIs and 69 runs.
For the visitors, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 5.3 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.00 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 8.46 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.93, along with a WHIP of 1.41.
The Pirates offense has slashed .270/.327/.437 on its way to 4.8 runs scored per game this season, including 4.8 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.2 per game over the team’s last five contests (2-3 SU).
First baseman Josh Bell and right fielder Starling Marte have paced Pittsburgh’s hitters. Bell is slashing .301/.374/.642 with 27 home runs, 84 RBIs and 69 runs scored, while Marte (.281/.322/.488) has produced 15 homers, 50 RBIs, 57 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The Pirates have lost 0.9 units and are 10-11 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher this season. The over has cashed in 14 of those games, compared to six that’ve gone under against lefties. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 0.9 units and are 37-37 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over’s hit in 37 of those games, compared to 33 that’ve gone under.
Pirates at Cubs Free MLB Pick
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The under has hit in four of Chicago’s last seven games.
- The Pirates have a total OPS of .764 this season, including an OPS of .651 against left-handed pitchers. The Cubs’ OPS stands at .792 overall and .729 against southpaws.
- The Cubs have won four of their last five games SU.
- Chicago has recorded 24.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 25.6 over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit 17 home runs in their last 10 games, including nine over their last five.
