Wednesday, August 5, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Dan Haren (7-7) vs. Jeff Locke (6-6)

The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Chicago Cubs to PNC Park on Wednesday. The Cubs send Dan Haren to the mound to face Jeff Locke of the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at +109 and Pittsburgh at -119. The over/under was set at 7.5. The Cubs, with a 47-57 run line record, cover the spread 45% of the time. They also have a 40-56 over/under record. The Pirates are 44-60 against the run line and have a 45-49 over/under record. They cover the spread 42% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 57-47 record, including 30-23 on the road. Dan Haren has a 7-7 record on the season, an earned run average of 3.42 and a 1.09 WHIP. In his starts, the Cubs are 10-11 over his 129 innings pitched this season while giving up 116 hits during those innings. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 11-9. The team is averaging 4 runs when he starts. The bullpen has given up 291 hits on the season and have a earned run average of 3.38. Teams are hitting .232 against the bullpen while being struck out 313 times and walking 126 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 8.06 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.6 batters per nine. They are 5th in the league in team earned run average at 3.43.

Chicago is batting .237 as a team, which is good for 29th in the league and hitting .246 away from home. The Cubs on-base percentage sits at .314, which puts them at 15th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .372. They rank 28th in baseball with 8.04 hits per game and Anthony Rizzo leads the team with 108.

With a 35-17 home record, Pittsburgh will hope to improve on their 61-43 overall mark. Jeff Locke has a record of 6-6 while sporting an earned run average of 4.21 on the year with a 1.42 WHIP. In his starts, the Pirates are 11-9 and he has allowed 117 hits over 113.1 innings pitched this season. Their record against the over/under when he starts is 9-9. The team is averaging 3.7 runs when he takes the field. The bullpen has given up 288 hits on the season and have a team earned run average of 2.86. Teams are hitting .241 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 270 times and walking 97 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.49 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.84 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.17.

They are batting .255 as a team, which is good for 10th in the league and hitting .257 at home. The Pirates on-base percentage sits at .316, which puts them at 14th in the league and they have a team slugging percentage of .385. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.84 hits per game and Andrew McCutchen leads the team with 107.

In terms of team defense, the Cubs have a fielding percentage of .982 with 70 total errors, 1,078 assists and 2,828 put outs. For the home team, they hold a .982 team fielding percentage while committing 77 errors, accumulating 1245 assists and compiling 2,858 put outs.

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

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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