Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs MLB Picks, Odds, Predictions 9/29/21

The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates meet Wednesday in MLB action at PNC Park. The Cubs need a win here to snap a seven-game losing streak. The Pirates need a win after losing six of their last nine games.

The Chicago Cubs have scored 13 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in eight of their last nine games. The Cubs have lost six straight games when scoring four or more runs. Ian Happ leads the Cubs with 100 hits and 63 RBI while Willson Contreras and Rafael Ortega have combined for 171 hits and 85 RBI. Kyle Hendricks gets the ball, and he is 14-7 with a 4.81 ERA and 126 strikeouts this season. Hendricks is 7-10 with a 3.69 ERA and 95 strikeouts in his career against the Pirates.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have scored 15 runs in their last three games and four or more runs in seven of their last nine games. The Pirates have won nine of their last 13 games when scoring four or more runs. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates with 162 hits and 88 RBI while Kevin Newman and Ke’Bryan Hayes have combined for 204 hits and 74 RBI. Roansy Contreras makes his major league debut when he takes the mound tonight. Contreras was 19-13 with a 3.13 ERA and 289 strikeouts in his minor league career.

The Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 road games and 0-6 in their last 6 during game 2 of a series. The Pirates are 7-3 in their last 10 home games and 12-39 in their last 51 Wednesday games. The over is 10-1 in Cubs last 11 overall. The under is 5-2-1 in Pirates last 8 home games. The under is 8-2-1 in the last 11 meetings in Pittsburgh.

I’m never a fan of betting on a pitcher making his big league debut, as you have no idea what to expect. However, I’m sure Contreras can pitch better than Hendricks has as of late. Hendricks has allowed 57 hits and 41 earned runs in his last 47.1 innings. I want nothing to do with how Hendricks has looked these last two months. Give me the Pirates.