In this article, we will formulate a Cubs vs Pirates prediction for this MLB game on Thursday, June 12th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 41-27 this year after they lost two out of three against the Phillies by scores of 3-4, 8-4, and 2-7. In their game three loss, Chicago cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fourth inning, but allowed the next three runs to seal the loss. The Cubs recorded eight hits in the game, and they were led by Hoerner and Tucker, who both had one RBI in the loss. Chicago started Brown, who allowed eight hits and six earned runs over 5.2 innings for the loss, while Cabrera allowed one earned run in relief.
Prior to that series, the Cubs lost two out of three against the Tigers, but did win two out of three against the Nationals before that. Chicago has lost four of their last six games, and they are currently first in the NL Central standings. The Chicago pitching staff has a 3.70 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and a .247 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 376 runs with a .258 batting average and a .329 on-base percentage this season. Pete Crow-Armstrong has led Chicago with 17 home runs and 55 RBIs, while Seiya Suzuki has added 16 home runs and 56 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Jameson Taillon, who is 6-3 with a 3.54 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP over 76.1 innings pitched this year.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 28-41 this season after they won two out of three against Miami by scores of 10-3, 2-3, and 5-2. In their game three win, Pittsburgh jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning, and they added an insurance run in the eighth to secure the win. The Pirates recorded seven hits in the game, and they were led by McCutchen, who went 1-4 with one home run and three RBIs in the win. Pittsburgh started Falter, who allowed five hits and one earned run over 5.1 innings for the win, while Bednar picked up the save.
Prior to that series, the Pirates swept the Phillies in three games, but lost two out of three against the Astros before that. Pittsburgh has won five of its last six games, and they are currently last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.79 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP and a .232 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 225 runs with a .229 batting average and a .307 on-base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with 13 home runs and 29 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added eight home runs and 39 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Andrew Heaney, who is 3-4 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP over 72.1 innings pitched this season.
Why the Cubs will beat the Pirates
- The Cubs have won 17 of their last 18 games following a road loss.
- The Pirates have lost each of their last eight games against the Cubs following a home win.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last 11 games following a road loss.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six road games against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in seven of their last eight home games against opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last four games against the Pirates.
Why the Pirates will beat the Cubs
- The Pirates have won six of their last eight games as underdogs after playing the previous day.
- The Cubs have lost three of their last four games as home favorites against NL Central opponents following a road loss.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in eight of their last nine games at Wrigley Field.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six Thursday games as home favorites against National League opponents.
- The Cubs have lost the first inning in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last four games.
Total Runs Facts
- Five of the Cubs’ last six night games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Four of the Pirates’ last five road games against NL Central opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Cubs’ last nine night games at Wrigley Field.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Pirates’ last four games as underdogs against NL Central opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Dansby Swanson has hit a home run in five of his last six appearances with the Cubs as favorites against the Pirates.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one RBI in each of his six previous appearances against the Pirates.
- Dansby Swanson has scored at least one run in each of his last six appearances with the Cubs as favorites against the Pirates.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 11 night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jameson Taillon has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded a Double in five of the Cubs’ last six games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
- Ian Happ has recorded at least one Single in each of his last nine appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks T3rd in the league in Steals (21) this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has hit a home run in each of the Pirates’ last two games as road underdogs.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has scored a run in each of the Pirates’ last four games.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Pirates’ last five night games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Ke’Bryan Hayes has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances after playing the previous day.
- Andrew Heaney has recorded four or more strikeouts in eight of his last 10 appearances in night games against teams that held a winning record.
- Adam Frazier has recorded a Double in three of the Pirates’ last four night games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded a Single in each of the Pirates’ last six games as underdogs against NL opponents.
- Oneil Cruz ranks 2nd in the league in Steals (24) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Cubs rank 1st in the league for RBIs this season (368).
- The Cubs rank 2nd in the league for runs scored this season (376).
- The Pirates rank 29th in the league for runs scored this season (225).
- The Pirates rank 29th in the league for home runs this season (49).
Cubs vs Pirates Prediction
Pittsburgh comes into this series in last place in the NL Central standings, but they have won two series in a row and have some momentum. The Pirates are 9-22 on the road this season, while the Cubs are 20-11 at home. Chicago has lost three of their last four games, and they are starting Taillon, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four straight starts. The Pirates are going with Heaney, who has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts. This Pittsburgh offense has been pretty bad all season, and I think we are in for a low-scoring game, so I like the under here.