The Pittsburgh Pirates are in Chicago this week for a series against the Cubs. And things haven’t gone well for the visitors. Chicago has played well in the first two games, and Pittsburgh will try and salvage game three of the series on Thursday.
The NL Central Division standings are still pretty wide open at this stage of the season. Both of these MLB teams still have a chance. That will make this a big game in the series finale and a solid betting option. Here is some key information that will help you make a Pirates vs Cubs prediction in this game.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Odds
Pirates vs Cubs Matchup Information
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Location of the game: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Date & Time: Thursday, June 15, 8:05 PM EST
How to watch: MLB Network
Recent Scores
Looking at recent scores for each team is one way to help you make a Pirates vs Cubs prediction on Thursday night. Chicago has won each of the first two MLB games in this series, and they are now looking for a sweep.
The Pittsburgh Pirates standings at this point of the season are much better than expected. They lead the NL Central Division with a 34-32 record. The Chicago Cubs have rattled off wins in four of their last five games, and they are taking advantage of an opportunity on the MLB schedule.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Analysis
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been a major surprise all season long, and they are doing it with a ton of young talent. Pittsburgh is a team that has hit just 65 total home runs this season, but they are hitting .249 this season.
Jack Suwinski has provided plenty of power for this team as he leads the team with 15 home runs. Johan Oviedo is set to make this start for the Pirates, and he has gone just 3-5 with a 4.16 ERA so far this season.
The Chicago Cubs have had a tough time keeping players off of the MLB injury report, and that has impacted them throughout the year. Patrick Wisdom leads the team with 14 home runs, but Christopher Morel has been charging hard of late.
Chicago has been getting good work from the starting rotation this season, and Marcus Stroman will make the start in this game. Stroman has gone 7-4 with a 2.42 ERA so far in 2023. He should be an All-Star if he continues to pitch the ball well. Even though the Pirates are leading in the standings, the Cubs are a better overall team.
Odds Breakdown
You also need to look at the MLB odds when making a Pirates vs Cubs prediction, and those odds don’t look at the MLB standings. Here is how the odds breakdown for the series finale on Thursday night.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are underdogs on the moneyline at +135 for this game on Thursday night. They have been one of the MLB teams that have performed well as an underdog this season, and they will have to do it again.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are the moneyline betting favorite at -165 on Thursday night. Partly because the MLB player stats for Marcus Stroman are so strong. The over/under in this game is set at 8.5 total runs, and that goes for both teams.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs Betting Pick and Prediction
The two MLB picks that you should look at making for this game are the moneyline and the over/under. You could take a bigger risk and bet the Cubs on the run line, but the Pirates will be playing a bit desperate in this game.
Taking the Cubs on the moneyline behind Stroman is the way to go, though, and you should expect to see a low-scoring affair in this one. Stroman won’t give up many runs, and the Cubs aren’t always a great offensive team.
- Pick 1: Chicago Cubs -165
- Pick 2: Under 8.5 Runs
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