The Pittsburgh Pirates are traveling west to Wrigley Field to square off against their division rival Chicago Cubs. The first pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET and the action will be shown on either WLS or ATPT.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Odds
The Pirates have gone 7-2 SU this year and are 6-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve gained 4.7 units for moneyline gamblers in the season’s early going and 4.3 units ATS. The Cubs are 5-4 SU and 5-4 ATS. The team has lost 1.8 units for moneyline bettors while earning 0.9 units ATS.
Cubs games have an over/under record of 3-6 so far in 2018. The Pirates have an over/under record of 6-3.
The Pirates have gained 3.6 units and are 5-3 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in five of those games, compared to three that’ve gone under against right-handed starting pitchers. On the other hand, the Cubs have netted 1.3 units and are 4-2 ATS when facing a righty starter. The over has cashed in three of those games, compared to three that went under the total.
Ivan Nova (0-1, 6.10 ERA) will get the nod for the visiting Pirates. The right-handed Nova started 31 games last year while finishing the season 11-14 overall with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He made three starts against Chicago in 2017 and put together a 2-1 record against the Cubs with a 4.86 ERA and 17 strikeouts.
The Cubbies will put the ball in the hands of righty Tyler Chatwood (0-1, 1.50 ERA), who started 25 games last year and finished the season 8-15 overall with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.
Chicago’s pitching staff has allowed 2.9 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. The team’s starting pitching staff has a 3.88 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 7.2 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a solid ERA of just 0.94, a WHIP of 0.99 and a K/9 of 9.9. In five divisional games, Cubs starters have an ERA of 1.86 and the bullpen’s ERA is 1.26.
The Chicago hitters are putting up 4.3 runs per contest, including 4.0 per game over their last five. The team has a slash-line of .220/.325/.369 over its last five matchups and is 3-2 SU during that span.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and second baseman Ben Zobrist have led the Cubs’ batters so far. Bryant is hitting .324/.457/.622 with 12 hits, six RBIs and five runs scored, and Zobrist’s line is .360/.448/.520 with nine hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
For the visitors, Pittsburgh’s pitchers have allowed 4.3 runs per game and its starters own a 3.14 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 7.49 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 5.67, along with a K/9 of 7.56.
The Pirates offense has slashed .283/.363/.455 on its way to 6.4 runs scored per game in 2018, including over the team’s last five outings (3-2 SU).
Right fielder Gregory Polanco and second baseman Josh Harrison have led Pittsburgh’s hitters. Polanco is slashing .310/.447/.759 with nine hits, 13 RBIs and eight runs scored, while Harrison is hitting .342/.409/.474 with 13 hits, five RBIs and 11 runs scored.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Free MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – OVER
Notes
Betting Notes
The Pirates went 9-10 SU against the Cubs in 2017.
The Pirates have won three of their last four games SU.
The Cubs’ bullpen recorded an ERA of 4.15 against the Pirates last year.
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