The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs meet Friday in MLB action at Wrigley Field. Here’s a Cubs vs Pirates Prediction. This article will include a Cubs vs Pirates Pick.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 28-42 on the year and play the Tigers, Rangers, and Brewers next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .228 on the season, have a .306 OBP, and a .341 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitching staff has a 3.78 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 60 hits and 39 RBI, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ke’Bryan Hayes have combined for 112 hits and 33 RBI.
Paul Skenes gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 4-6 with a 1.88 ERA and 92 strikeouts this season. Skenes is 2-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 32 strikeouts in his career against the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 42-27 on the year and play the Brewers, Mariners, and Cardinals next. The Chicago Cubs are batting .256 on the season, have a .327 OBP, and a .442 slugging percentage. The Chicago Cubs pitching staff has a 3.68 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Chicago Cubs with 73 hits and 57 RBI, while Nico Hoerner and Kyle Tucker have combined for 142 hits and 72 RBI.
Cade Horton gets the ball for the Chicago Cubs, and he is 3-1 with a 4.11 ERA and 25 strikeouts this season. This will be Horton’s first career game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Why the Chicago Cubs will win
- The Cubs have won each of their last eight home games after playing the previous day.
- The Pirates have lost each of their last seven road games against NL Central opponents.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in nine of their last 10 day games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in four of their last five day games at Wrigley Field following a win.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against the Pirates.
- The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last eight Friday day games as underdogs.
Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win
- The Pirates have won each of their last four games as underdogs following a loss.
- The Cubs have lost each of their last four games as home favorites against the Pirates following a win.
- The Pirates have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games at Wrigley Field.
- The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight home games against National League opponents following a home win.
- The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five games.
- The Cubs have lost the first inning in three of their last four day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Dansby Swanson has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances with the Cubs as home favorites against the Pirates.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in 17 of his last 18 home appearances against the Pirates.
- Dansby Swanson has scored at least one run in six of his last seven appearances with the Cubs as favorites against the Pirates.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded a Double in four of the Cubs’ last five day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one Single in nine of his last 10 home appearances against the Pirates.
- Kyle Tucker has recorded at least one RBI in six of his seven previous appearances against the Pirates.
- 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 two of the Pirates’ last three games as road underdogs.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances against NL opponents.
- Oneil Cruz has scored a run in each of his last five appearances in day games.
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded a Single in each of the Pirates’ last seven games as underdogs against NL opponents.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Pirates’ last five day games.
- Oneil Cruz ranks 2nd in the league in Steals (24) this season.
Cubs vs Pirates Prediction
The Cubs are the better team, and Horton has been solid through 30.2 rookie innings, so you can make a case for them at home. However, we’re getting one of the best pitchers in baseball at a pick em price. Skenes has a 1.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP on the season, and he’s allowed nine hits and one earned run in his last 22.1 innings. In 45.1 road innings, Skenes has a 1.19 ERA and .168 allowed batting average. It’s damn near impossible to turn down Skenes at this price. So, give me the Pirates.