The Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Wednesday in MLB action from PNC Park. Here’s a Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Pirates vs Cubs pick.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Over the weekend the Cubs took on the Miami Marlins. Chicago did well in the first two games with victories but fell 7-2 in the finale. After an 18-8 blowout victory over the Pirates in their opener, on Tuesday the Cubs had seven hits in a 9-5 win. Justin Steele went 5.0 innings with two earned in the starter role.
In the starter slot for the finale the Cubs will send out Kyle Hendricks. This year Hendricks is 3-10 with a 6.33 ERA in 23 games (18 starts). Hendricks is 96-79 with a 3.67 ERA in 270 career games (264 starts).
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they played the Cincinnati Reds in their weekend set. Pittsburgh managed to win three of those four games, minus a 10-2 loss on Saturday. In Tuesday’s game, the Pirates blew an early 2-0 lead and never got close from there. Starter Jared Jones left after five earned in 4.0 innings.
It’ll be Paul Skenes in the starter role for the Pirates on Wednesday. So far in his rookie season Skenes is 8-2 with a 2.16 ERA in his first 17 starts.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one total base in each of the Pirates’ last nine games as favorites against the Cubs.
- Bryan De La Cruz has scored a run in eight of his last nine home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Pirates’ last four games as favorites against NL opponents.
- Bryan De La Cruz has recorded at least one Single in eight of his last nine appearances with his team as a home favorite against NL Central opponents.
- Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last nine games as favorites against the Cubs.
- Connor Joe has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last four home games against the Cubs.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one total base in each of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as underdogs.
- Kyle Hendricks has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last four appearances against the Pirates.
- Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in each of the Cubs’ last seven games against NL Central opponents.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cubs’ last five games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one Single in 11 of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as underdogs.
- Dansby Swanson has hit a home run in four of his last five appearances against the Pirates.
- Ian Happ has recorded a Double in each of the Cubs’ last four games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances with the Cubs as underdogs.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction
I’ll lean toward the Pirates with Skenes on the mound. Skenes did post a loss on August 10 versus the Dodgers with four earned in 6.0 innings. Since then however he’s 2-0 with just two earned in 12.0 frames. As for Hendricks, he’s got six earned over his last three starts in 15.2 frames total.
On Tuesday Pittsburgh had two bad innings which led to all of the Cubs’ runs. On the bright side the bullpen wasn’t terrible, and there were a few nice offensive performances (Oneil Cruz went 4-for-4 with two RBI). The Pirates should get a good start from Skenes on Wednesday; the rest will be up to the pen and the bats.