The Chicago Cubs are ready to face off against their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. NBC Sports Chicago will televise the matchup and the first pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. ET.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
Pittsburgh (+110) is the home-team underdog against Chicago (-120) and oddsmakers have the Over/Under for this game at 8.5 runs. Odds for betting on the game’s total stand at +100 for the over and -120 for the under. Bettors can also wager on the game’s runline with the odds standing at +125 for the Cubs -1.5 runs and -145 for the Pirates +1.5 runs.
The Pirates are 28-26 SU and 24-29 ATS. They’ve gained 0.0 units for bettors taking the moneyline while earning 4.2 units against the spread (ATS). The Cubs have gone 29-22 SU this year and are 23-27 ATS. Overall, the team’s lost 5.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 4.3 units ATS.
Pirates games have a 26-21-6 over/under record so far in 2018. The Cubs have been a decent under bet with a total record of 21-28-1.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks is getting the nod for the visiting Cubs. Hendricks is 4-3 with a 3.16 ERA and 51 strikeouts. He’s 0-1 with seven strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA against Pittsburgh this year (three starts).
The Pirates are putting the ball in the hands of righty Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA), who has seven punchouts and zero walks to his name, as well as a WHIP of 0.71. Musgrove hasn’t faced the Cubs yet this year and did not record a start against them in 2017.
As a unit, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has given up 4.5 runs per game overall this year. Its starters have an ERA of 4.19, a WHIP of 1.24 and a strikeouts-per-nine of 7.4. The bullpen has a 4.22 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 9.7 K/9. In 21 games against NL Central opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 3.35 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.29.
The Pittsburgh hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per contest, including 5.3 per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .229/.256/.373 over its last five contests and is 1-4 SU during that stretch.
The Pirates’ batters have been led by outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte. Dickerson is hitting .309/.346/.487 with five home runs, 31 RBIs and 23 runs scored, while Marte’s line is .309/.361/.514 with seven homers, 23 RBIs, 32 runs and 10 steals.
Compared to his total season slash line of .275/.333/.379, Marte appeared to enjoy facing righties at home last year, hitting .374/.447/.565 across 132 plate appearances.
In the visiting dugout, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 3.8 runs per game and its starters own a 3.81 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 8.43 K/9. The bullpen has an outstanding ERA of just 2.71, along with a WHIP of 1.33.
The Cubs offense has slashed .262/.346/.437 on its way to 5.3 runs scored per game in 2018, including 4.9 runs per game against divisional foes and 6.6 per game over the team’s last five contests (4-1 SU).
Chicago’s offensive production been led by third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Javier Baez, who collectively have blasted 21 home runs. Bryant is slashing .287/.401/.530 with eight home runs, 27 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Baez (.268/.299/.567) has produced 13 homers, 42 RBIs, 32 runs and seven stolen bases.
The Cubs have lost 6.7 units and are 16-21 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher this year. The over has hit in 15 of those games, as opposed to 21 that’ve hit the under against righty starters. On the other hand, the Pirates have netted 0.3 units and are 20-22 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over has hit in 18 of those games, as opposed to 18 which went under the total.
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Notes
The over has cashed in just two of Chicago’s last seven games.
The Pirates have lost five of their last six games SU.
Pittsburgh has recorded 20.5 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 games and 19.0 over its last five.
The Cubs have hit 14 home runs in their last 10 games, including eight over their last five.
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