Monday, June 9, 2014, 6:05 PM on WCIU, ROOT

PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chicago Cubs - Jackson, E (4-5) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates - Cole, G (6-3)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Monday night, the Chicago Cubs will take the field behind Edwin Jackson as they square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Gerrit Cole. Both pitchers will be making their 13th starts of the season.

Edwin Jackson improved his record to 4- 5 with a 4.59 ERA after getting the win his last time out.  In that start, he gave up 4 runs on 5 hits (including a home run) in 5 innings of work as he walked 5 and struck out 4.  For the 4th time this season, he threw over 100 pitches in less than 9 innings.  In 2013, Jackson averaged 97.4 pitches per start en route to an 8 – 18 record and a 4.98 ERA in 31 starts.

Last season, Jackson was 2 - 2 with a 3.48 ERA in 4 starts against the Pirates.  This season, he pitched to 2 no-decisions in back to back starts against Pittsburgh.  He gave up 8 runs on 11 hits in 9.3 innings with 8 walks and 9 strikeouts.

Gerrit Cole picked up his 2nd straight win his last time out and that boosted his record to 6 – 3 with a 3.64 ERA.  In that outing, Cole gave up just a run on 4 hits in 5.2 innings of work as he walked 2 and struck out 6.  His high pitch count could be an issue late in the season though.  He is averaging over 100 pitches per start this season compared to 90.9 last season when he went 10 – 7 with a 3.22 ERA in 19 starts.

In his rookie campaign in 2013, Cole was 2 - 0 with a 2.08 ERA in 2 starts against the Cubs. This season, he pitched to a win over Chicago after allowing 4 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings while walking 2 and striking out a season high 10 batters.    

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs are 28-26-3 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Chicago Cubs is -0.2

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 24-29-6 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is -0.4

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

06/03/14 C Welington Castillo Back 15-day DL (6/1)
05/14/14 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 15-day DL (5/13)
05/03/14 CF Ryan Sweeney Hamstring 15-day DL (5/3)
03/31/14 P James McDonald Shoulder 60-day DL (2/23)
03/28/14 P Kyuji Fujikawa Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Pittsburgh Pirates

05/04/14 P Stolmy Pimentel Shoulder 15-day DL (5/2)

Guy's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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