The Chicago Cubs are on the road tonight in Major League Baseball, taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. Currently the betting odds for the game have the Pirates favored to pick up the win at home.
MLB Odds
Pirates -121, Cubs +110
Total: 7 runs
The Cubs have been beating up on everybody this season. Now they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that is very strong and still sits three games back of the Cubs in the National League Central.
Both teams come in off a loss yesterday, but both have been playing very good baseball. Pittsburgh has won eight of the last 10 games overall, Chicago has posted seven victories in the last 10 games. Chicago still leads the league in run differential, they’ve out-scored opponents by 78 runs this season.
Jason Hammel (3-0, 0.75 ERA) has looked solid for the Cubs this season. He’s allowed only two earned runs all season while throwing exactly six innings in all four of his starts. He’s not posting huge strikeout numbers, but he leads the National League in ERA at 0.75 while surrendering only 16 hits in 24 innings of work. The last three seasons he has eight starts against the Cubs, going 3-4 with a 3.88 ERA.
Current Pirates are hitting .265 against him in 132 plate appearances; Andrew McCutchen has homered twice in 30 at bats and has the most success with nine overall hits.
The Pirates counter with Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.78). He lost his initial two starts to the season but he’s rebounded to win two straight road games, tossing six innings each against San Diego and Colorado, giving up just two combined earned runs in those games.
Cole has been very strong at home the past three seasons, going 20-10. He lost once at home this season to the Detroit Tigers, his other three starts have been on the road.
Current Cubs are hitting .262 against him over 107 plate appearances. None of the big boppers have real strong numbers against him, though Anthony Rizzo leads the pack with six hits over 17 at bats.
Cole is strong at home, both teams are playing well but this should be a lower-scoring game. Pittsburgh this season has been decent at home, the Cubs have been lights out on the road (10-3). Cole will have to bring his best effort tonight.
Free Pick: Pittsburgh
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