Cubs vs. Pirates Pick
Can the host Pittsburgh Pirates win another game versus the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night? First pitch is at 7:05PM EST.
Oddsmakers at sports book Bovada.lv have set the Cubs as a -135 favorite to win on the moneyline. The Pirates are a +115 underdog, while the over-under is set at 8.
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Jose Quintana (9-11, 4.49 ERA) will draw the start for Chicago, while Pittsburgh counters with Gerrit Cole (11-9, 4.11). Quintana has a 1.28 WHIP with 171 strikeouts in 156 1/3 innings. He allowed three earned runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks over six innings in a 17-3 home win over the Pirates his last time out. Quintana has a 4.06 ERA in 14 road starts. Cole has a 1.24 WHIP with 160 strikeouts in 173 innings. He gave up five earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks in six innings in a 7-3 home loss to the Reds his last start. Cole holds a 4.48 ERA in 13 home starts.
The Cubs are 75-63 and 35-34 on the road, while Pittsburgh comes in at 67-72 and 39-32. The two teams have split the last 10 meetings and the total has gone under seven times.
Pittsburgh won Tuesday’s game 4-3 for its fourth straight win. Jordan Luplow led the charge with a two-run home run. David Freese was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Andrew McCutchen also finished 2-for-4. Wade LeBlanc earned the win with three innings of hitless relief, striking out one. Kris Bryant was 2-for-4 with a double and a run to pace the Cubs. Albert Almora went 2-for-5 with a run. Ian Happ added a single and two RBIs. Carl Edwards Jr. took the loss in relief.
It doesn’t seem likely that the Cubs would lose three in a row to the Pirates, but the fact of the matter is Pittsburgh is very strong at home. It is a formidable lineup Quintana has to face with plenty of right-handed bats that can cause damage. We’ll take the hosts as small underdogs here.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: PITTSBURGH PIRATES +115