Friday, June 20, 2014, 3:05 PM on ROOT, WGN

Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Pittsburgh Pirates - Morton, C (4-7) vs. Chicago Cubs - Jackson, E (4-7)

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Friday afternoon, Charlie Morton gets the call for the Pittsburgh Pirates as they take on Edwin Jackson and the Chicago Cubs.  Both pitchers will be making their 15th starts of the season.

Charlie Morton won his 3rd straight his last time out and that boosted his record to 4 - 7 with a 3.09 ERA.  In that outing, Morton went 7 innings and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks and 6 strikeouts.  After a rough patch, Morton has picked it up.  There is still plenty of time for him to match or better his results from 2013 when he went 7 - 4 with a 3.26 ERA in 20 starts.

Last season, Morton was 0 - 1 with a 3.50 ERA in 3 starts against the Cubs.  This season, Morton is 1 – 0 in 3 starts against Chicago.  He pitched to back-to-back no-decisions against the Cubs to start his season but less than 2 weeks ago he beat Chicago with a 7 inning, 1 run and 6 hit effort.

Edwin Jackson dropped his 2nd straight in his last start and that lowered his record to 4 - 7 with a 5.11 ERA.  Jackson lasted just 4.2 innings the last time out as he gave up 7 runs on 8 hits (including 2 homers) while walking 2 and striking out 2. Without a dramatic change, he is headed for another season like 2013, when he went 8 – 18 with 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 is 0 – 1 in 3 starts against Pittsburgh.  His first two starts of the season were no-decisions against the Pirates and he took the loss less than 2 weeks ago against Pittsburgh after surrendering 4 runs and 7 hits (including a home run) in 6 innings.   

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

Pittsburgh Pirates are 31-33-6 against the Over/Under

Run Differential for Pittsburgh Pirates is -0.2

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

Chicago Cubs are 35-31-3 against the Over/Under

Run differential for Chicago Cubs is -0.2

Injuries to Watch

Pittsburgh Pirates

06/11/14 P Francisco Liriano Side 15-day DL (6/11)
06/09/14 P Gerrit Cole Shoulder 15-day DL (6/4)
06/09/14 2B Neil Walker Appendix 15-day DL (6/9)

Chicago Cubs

06/13/14 2B Emilio Bonifacio Ribs 15-day DL (6/13)
06/03/14 C Welington Castillo Back 15-day DL (6/1)
03/31/14 P James McDonald Shoulder 60-day DL (2/23)
03/28/14 P Kyuji Fujikawa Elbow 60-day DL (3/21)

Tony's Pick: Take Chicago

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