Monday, August 3, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jon Lester (6-8) vs. Francisco Liriano (7-6)

The Chicago Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday at PNC Park. The Cubs send Jon Lester to the mound to face Francisco Liriano of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +125 and Pittsburgh at -135. The over/under was set at 6.5. The Cubs, with a 46-57 run line record, cover the spread 45% of the time. They also have a 40-55 over/under record. The Pirates have a 45-49 over/under record and a 44-60 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 42% of the time.

The Cubs show up with a 56-47 record, including 29-23 on the road. Jon Lester has an earned run average of 3.26 and is 6-8 so far on the season while having a 1.17 WHIP. He's pitched 132.2 innings thus far while surrendering 123 hits over that time and when he starts, the Cubs are 11-10. Against the over/under, the Cubs are 5-14 in his starts. He is getting 2.7 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.38 and they have given up 288 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .232 against the Cubs bullpen while walking 126 times and striking out 310 times. Chicago is averaging 8.63 strikeouts per game while getting 8.06 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 5th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.44.

As a team, Chicago is batting .237, good for 29th in the league while putting together a .246 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .372 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 16th in baseball. Anthony Rizzo leads the team in hits with 108 while the team ranks 28th in baseball with 8.03 hits per game.

Pittsburgh is 35-17 at home while holding a 61-43 overall record on the season. Francisco Liriano is starting this game 7-6 for the season with an earned run average of 2.92 and a WHIP of 1.06. He's pitched 126.1 innings thus far while surrendering 92 hits over that time in which the Pirates are 10-10. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 10-7 when he starts. He is getting 4.8 runs from the team when he takes the mound. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.86 and they have given up 288 base hits on the year. Opposing teams are hitting .241 against the Pirates bullpen while walking 97 times and striking out 270 times. Pittsburgh is averaging 7.85 strikeouts per game while getting 8.52 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.20.

As a team, they are batting .257, good for 9th in the league while putting together a .257 average at home. The Pirates hold a .386 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .317 which is good for 13th in baseball. Andrew McCutchen leads the team in hits with 107 while the team ranks 8th in baseball with 8.89 hits a game.

Chicago has a team fielding percentage of .982 after having committed 69 errors with 1063 assists and 2,801 put outs for the season. The Pirates have committed 77 errors on the season with 1232 assists and 2,831 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .981 on the year.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 40-55 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 46-57 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 45-49 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 44-60 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

08/02/15 3B Kris Bryant Neck left last game, "?" Monday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
07/29/15 P Neil Ramirez Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/29)
07/17/15 C Miguel Montero Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/12)
06/29/15 P Tsuyoshi Wada Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (6/23)
04/15/15 2B Tommy La Stella Ribs Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (4/9)
04/06/15 P Jacob Turner Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Pittsburgh Pirates

08/01/15 P A.J. Burnett Elbow Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/31)
07/20/15 SS Jordy Mercer Knee Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/20)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
07/06/15 3B Josh Harrison Thumb Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/6)
06/24/15 RF Corey Hart Shoulder Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (6/22)
05/07/15 LF Andrew Lambo Plantar Fasciitis Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (5/4)
04/06/15 P Brandon Cumpton Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Tony's Pick: Take the Cubs

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Read more articles by Tony Sink