The Pittsburgh Pirates will play their divisional rival Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. WGN is in line to televise the matchup. The opening pitch is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Odds
The Cubs are 37-24 SU and 30-30 ATS. The team’s lost 0.4 units for moneyline bettors while gaining 1.1 units against the spread (ATS). Chicago has covered the spread five times in its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Pirates have gone 31-33 SU this year and are 28-35 ATS. In total, the team’s lost 4.0 units for moneyline gamblers and 8.9 units ATS. Pittsburgh is 3-4 ATS over its last seven games and the total has gone under in five of those seven.
Chicago games have an over/under record of 25-34-1 so far in 2018. Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 30-27-6.
Ivan Nova will get the start for Pittsburgh. The right-handed Nova is 2-5 with a 4.96 ERA and 47 strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with six strikeouts and a 3.86 ERA against Chicago this year (three starts).
The Cubs are turning to righty Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.59 ERA), who’s got 57 strikeouts and 17 walks to his credit as well as a 1.10 WHIP. Hendricks is 0-2 with eight strikeouts and a 3.27 ERA over two starts against Pittsburgh this year.
Chicago’s pitchers have yielded 3.5 runs per game overall in 2018 as a unit. Its starting pitching staff has a 3.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has recorded a solid ERA of just 2.60, a WHIP of 1.19 and a K/9 of 9.2. In 26 games against divisional foes, Cubs starters have an ERA of 2.16 and the bullpen’s ERA is 2.71.
Chicago’s hitters have put up 5.1 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.4 per game over their last five. The team has hit .235/.313/.349 over its last five matchups and is 4-1 SU during that span.
Third baseman Kris Bryant and catcher Willson Contreras have led the Cubs’ offense this year. Bryant is slashing .298/.408/.509 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs and 36 runs scored, while Contreras has put up a line of .281/.372/.453 with four homers, 22 RBIs and 22 runs.
In the other dugout, Pittsburgh’s pitching staff allowed 4.5 runs per game and its starters own a 4.19 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 7.54 K/9. The bullpen has an ERA of 4.36, along with a WHIP of 1.26 and a K/9 of 9.48.
The Pirates offense has slashed .252/.325/.412 on its way to 4.5 runs scored per game this year, including 4.6 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.8 per game over the team’s last five outings (1-4 SU).
Pittsburgh’s hitters have been led by outfielders Corey Dickerson and Starling Marte. Dickerson is slashing .321/.356/.487 with five home runs, 32 RBIs and 31 runs scored, while Marte (.280/.338/.454) is up to seven homers, 25 RBIs, 33 runs and 13 stolen bases.
The Pirates have lost 2.6 units and are 23-26 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has hit in 20 of those games, compared to 23 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Cubs have lost 3.0 units and are 22-24 ATS when facing a right-handed starting pitcher. The over’s hit in 19 of those games, compared to 26 that’ve cashed the under.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs MLB Tip
Predictions: SU Winner – Cubs, ATS Winner – Pirates, O/U – UNDER
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Notes
Betting Trends
The Pirates have lost six of their last seven games SU while the Cubs have won eight of their last nine SU.
Chicago has posted 22.7 Runs + Hits + Errors per game over its last 10 contests and 17.4 over its last five.
The Pirates have hit seven home runs in their last 10 games. The Cubs have hit six over their last 10.
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