Tuesday, August 4, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jake Arrieta (11-6) vs. J.A. Happ (0-0)

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on Tuesday. The Cubs send Jake Arrieta to the mound to face J.A. Happ of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -121 and Pittsburgh at +111. The over/under was set at 7. The Cubs have a 40-56 over/under record and a 47-57 run line mark, meaning they cover 45% of the time. 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 come into this game with a 57-47 record, and they are 30-23 away from home. Jake Arrieta has an earned run average of 2.62 and is 11-6 so far on the season while having a 1.02 WHIP. In his starts, the Cubs are 13-8 over his 140.2 innings pitched this season while giving up 109 hits during those innings. The Cubs are also 5-11 against the over/under in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen has an earned run average of 3.38 and they have given up 291 base hits on the year. The bullpen has struck out 313 and walked 126 batters this season while opposing teams hit .232 against them. Chicago has a team average of 8.06 hits allowed per game and are averaging 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.43, they are 5th in the league.

Chicago ranks 29th in the league in team batting average at .237 while hitting .246 on the road. The Cubs hold a .372 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .314 which is good for 15th in baseball. With 108 hits, Anthony Rizzo leads the team while his team ranks 28th in hits per game with 8.04.

With a 61-43 overall record, Pittsburgh will come into this game 35-17 at home. J.A. Happ will be making his first start for the Pirates. The bullpen has an earned run average of 2.86 and they have given up 288 base hits on the year. The Pirates bullpen has struck out 270 batters and walked 97 this season while opposing teams have hit .241 against them. Pittsburgh has a team average of 8.49 hits per game and are averaging 7.84 strikeouts per nine innings. With a team earned run average of 3.17, they are 2nd in the league.

They rank 10th in the league in team batting average with a .255 average while hitting .257 at home. The Pirates hold a .385 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .316 which is good for 14th in baseball. With 107 hits, Starling Marte leads the team while his team ranks 9th in hits per game with 8.84.

Chicago has a team fielding percentage of .982 after having committed 70 errors with 1,078 assists and 2,828 put outs for the season. Over the course of this season, the Pirates have accumlated 77 errors while having 1245 assists and 2,858 put outs leading to a .982 fielding percentage.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 40-56 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 47-57 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 Pirates

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