The Pittsburgh Pirates will take the field against their division rival Chicago Cubs in a Saturday showdown. NBC Sports Chicago will broadcast the matchup. The game is scheduled to get underway at 2:20 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates have gone 65-83 SU this year and are 73-74 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 6.5 units for moneyline bettors and 17.4 units ATS. Pittsburgh’s covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven. The Cubs, on the other hand, are 79-68 SU and 69-77 ATS. The team’s lost 4.9 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.0 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread just twice over its last seven games and the under has hit in four of those seven.
Chicago games have an over/under record of 65-70-11 in 2019. The Pirates have been a great over bet with a total record of 83-56-8.
James Marvel will get the nod for the visiting Pirates. Marvel (0-1, 3.60 ERA) has racked up two strikeouts in five innings so far. He has yet to face the Cubs this year and did not record a start against them in 2018, either.
The Cubs are putting the ball in the hands of righty Kyle Hendricks (10-9, 3.33 ERA), who’s got 137 strikeouts and 31 walks, along with a WHIP of 1.11. Hendricks is 0-1 with five strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA over two starts against Pittsburgh this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have given up 4.4 runs per game overall in 2019 as a unit. The club’s starting pitching staff has a 4.07 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.01 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 9.0 K/9. In 61 games against divisional foes, Cubs starters have an ERA of 3.85 and the bullpen’s ERA is 4.34.
Chicago’s hitters have produced 5.0 runs per outing, including 4.9 per game against divisional foes and 7.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .279/.362/.508 over its last five games and is 3-2 SU during that stretch.
The Cubs’ offense has been led by shortstop Javier Baez and third baseman Kris Bryant. Baez is hitting .281/.316/.532 with 29 home runs, 85 RBIs and 88 runs scored, and Bryant’s line is .281/.380/.518 with 28 homers, 69 RBIs and 102 runs scored.
For the visitors, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 5.5 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 5.33 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 8.25 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.82, along with a WHIP of 1.43.
Pirates hitters have slashed .267/.327/.429 on their way to 4.8 runs scored per game in 2019, including 4.7 runs per game against divisional foes and 5.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (3-2 SU).
Pittsburgh’s hitters have been paced by outfielders Starling Marte and Bryan Reynolds. Marte is hitting .295/.342/.503 with 23 home runs, 82 RBIs, 97 runs and 25 steals. Reynolds (.323/.386/.517) has produced 16 homers, 66 RBIs and 82 runs scored.
The Pirates have lost 0.6 units and are 56-54 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this season. The over’s hit in 58 of those games, compared to 45 that’ve gone under against ies.
Pirates vs. Cubs Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Betting Trends
- Pittsburgh has tallied 19 extra-base hits over its last five contests. Chicago has 18 XBH over its last five.
- Pittsburgh has recorded 23.1 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 24.4 over its last five.
- The Pirates have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit 20 over their last 10.
