The Chicago Cubs will be taking the field against their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates in a Thursday night game. The game gets underway 7:05 p.m. ET and NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast the action.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
The Cubs have gone 82-76 SU this year and are 74-83 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.1 units for gamblers taking the moneyline and 8.8 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread only once over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 67-91 SU and 75-82 ATS. The team’s lost 14.6 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 23.8 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the over has cashed in four of those seven.
Pittsburgh games have an over/under record of 90-59-8 in 2019. Chicago has an over/under record of 72-74-11.
The southpaw Jose Quintana will get the nod for the visiting Cubs. Quintana is 13-8 with a 4.55 ERA and 148 strikeouts. He’s 4-0 with 29 strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Pittsburgh this year (five starts).
The Pirates are putting the ball in the right hand of Joe Musgrove (10-12, 4.49 ERA), who’s got 149 punchouts and 37 walks this season as well as a 1.23 WHIP. Musgrove is 0-1 with 19 strikeouts and a 1.08 ERA across three starts against Chicago this year.
Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has yielded 5.7 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. Its starters have an ERA of 5.44, a WHIP of 1.45 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 8.3. The bullpen has a 4.97 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 9.9 K/9. In 72 games against NL Central opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 5.71 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.37.
The Pittsburgh offense has put up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over its last five. The team has hit .211/.243/.295 over its last five matchups and is 2-3 SU during that span.
Outfielders Starling Marte and Bryan Reynolds have led the way for the Pirates’ batters this year. Marte is hitting .295/.342/.503 with 23 home runs, 82 RBIs, 97 runs and 25 stolen bases, while the line for Reynolds stands at .314/.377/.503 with 16 homers, 68 RBIs and 83 runs scored.
In the other dugout, Chicago’s pitching staff allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starters own a 4.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.92 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.93, along with a WHIP of 1.30 and a K/9 of 9.07.
Cubs hitters have slashed .252/.334/.453 on their way to 5.0 runs scored per game this year, including 5.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five contests (0-5 SU).
Chicago’s hitters have been paced by third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who’ve collectively swatted 58 home runs. Bryant is slashing .282/.382/.521 with 31 home runs, 77 RBIs and 108 runs scored, while Rizzo is hitting .293/.405/.520 with 27 homers, 94 RBIs and 89 runs scored.
The Cubs have lost 3.6 units and are 61-64 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 59 of those games, compared to 57 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 10.4 units and are 17-24 ATS when facing a left-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 28 of those games, as opposed to 12 which went under the total.
Cubs vs. Pirates MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER
Betting Notes
- The over has cashed in four of Pittsburgh’s last seven games.
- The Cubs have a team OPS of .786 this season and an OPS of .796 when facing right-handed pitchers. The Pirates’ OPS sits at .746 overall and .765 versus righties.
- Chicago has posted 22.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 20.2 over its last five.
- The Cubs have hit 13 home runs in their last 10 games. The Pirates have hit two over their last 10.
