Cubs vs Pirates +132 O/U 9
The Cubs and Pirates are set to face off tonight at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The game starts at 6:40 PM ET (3:40 PM MST). Here’s a detailed preview:
- Pitching Matchup: Shota Imanaga (Cubs) with a 3.18 ERA vs. Andrew Heaney (Pirates) with a stellar 1.72 ERA.
- Team Records: Cubs are 17-12 overall, 8-5 on the road; Pirates are 11-18 overall, 6-7 at home.
- Offensive Highlights: Kyle Tucker leads the Cubs with a .289 batting average, 7 home runs, and 25 RBIs. Pete Crow-Armstrong is batting .286 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs. For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz has 8 home runs and 16 RBIs, while Andrew McCutchen is hitting .276.
- Recent Trends: Cubs have won 10 of 14 games as favorites this season, while the Pirates have struggled as underdogs, winning only 6 of 18 games.
- Weather Concerns: There’s a chance of rain and thunderstorms later in the evening, which could impact the game.
- Pitching Matchup: Shota Imanaga (Cubs) has a 3.18 ERA this season, while Andrew Heaney (Pirates) boasts an impressive 1.72 ERA.
- Team Records: The Cubs are 17-12 overall and 8-5 on the road. The Pirates are 11-18 overall and 6-7 at home.
- Offensive Highlights: Kyle Tucker leads the Cubs with a .289 batting average, 7 home runs, and 25 RBIs. Pete Crow-Armstrong is batting .286 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs. For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz has 8 home runs and 16 RBIs, while Andrew McCutchen is hitting .276.
- Recent Trends: The Cubs have won 10 of 14 games as favorites this season, while the Pirates have struggled as underdogs, winning only 6 of 18 games.
Prediction: Cubs Ace Shota Imanaga is boasting a solid 3.2 ERA. His FIP could be better, but if you looked at the teams that he has pitched against, all is understood. Andrew Heaney is at the helm for the Pirates who has been great this year with a 1.72 ERA, but this is more of the exception than the norm as he finished the last two years over 4.25. The Cubs have the better bats than the Pirates, but I am not so sure that the Bullpen holds up. The Cubs have lost two games in a row to the Phillies, and I think after a day’s rest, this team bounces back at least for half the game.
Cubs 1st 5 -140 – 1 star
