Pirates vs. Cubs Prediction
Will Jon Lester lead the Cubs to a series win against the Pirates today at 1:10PM ET in Wrigley Field?
According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetDSI, the Cubs are -170 money line favorites versus the Pirates, who have odds of +160 to pull off the upset in Chicago. With Jameson Taillon set to face Jon Lester in the pitching matchup, the over/under sits at 8.5 runs.
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From Rotoworld: Taillon set a career-high with nine strikeouts across five shutout innings in Tuesday’s 3-0 win over the Phillies. Not only were the strikeouts a career-high for Taillon, they were a season-high for any Pirates starter this season. He permitted just four hits and two walks. Unfortunately, all the whiffs elevated Taillon’s pitch count, as he was lifted after throwing 102 pitches in his five frames. Taillon holds a 1.98 ERA and 29/9 K/BB ratio over 27 1/3 innings in his five starts since returning from the disabled list. His final start of the first half will come Sunday at Wrigley.
Lester allowed six runs — five earned — over five innings Tuesday in a loss to the Rays. Lester was pounded for nine hits, including a two-run homer by Tim Beckham in the top of the fourth. That turned into a five-run frame for the visiting Rays, who held on for a 6-5 victory despite a late rally by Chicago. Lester is now 5-5 this season for the defending World Series champions, who sit one game under .500 with the All-Star break rapidly approaching.
Bet Today’s Pirates vs. Cubs Game
OUR PREDICTION: Lester should lead the Cubs to a win today against the Pirates but I don’t like the price. Plus, with how well Taillon is pitching, the total offers more value. In the Pirates’ last eight games, the under is 7-1. In their last six games on the road, the under is 5-1. And in the Cubs’ last five games when playing Pittsburgh, the under is 4-1. The first two games of this series went under and I like it again here today.
SUNDAY MLB PREDICTION: PIRATES/CUBS UNDER 8.5