Wednesday, September 16, 2015

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jake Arrieta (19-6) vs. A.J. Burnett (8-5)

The Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park on Wednesday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Jake Arrieta for the Cubs and A.J. Burnett for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -127 and Pittsburgh at +117. The over/under was set at 7. The Cubs have a 64-69 over/under record and a 68-74 run line mark, meaning they cover 48% of the time. The Pirates have a 67-63 over/under record and a 63-79 run line mark, which means they are covering the spread 44% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 82-60 record, including 39-32 on the road. Jake Arrieta has a 19-6 record on the season, an earned run average of 1.99 and a 0.92 WHIP. He's pitched 199 innings thus far while surrendering 138 hits over that time and when he starts, the Cubs are 21-8. Against the over/under, the Cubs are 8-16 in his starts. His teammates are averaging 4.2 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently 3.62 and they've given up 411 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .238 against the Cubs bullpen while walking 165 times and striking out 441 times. Chicago is averaging 8.71 strikeouts per game while getting 8.17 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 6th in baseball in team earned run average at 3.56.

Chicago ranks 30th in the league in team batting average at .243 while hitting .248 on the road. Ranked at 14th in the league in on-base percentage, the Cubs sit at .319 and they hold a .401 team slugging percentage. Anthony Rizzo leads the team in hits with 143 while the team ranks 28th in baseball with 8.22 hits per game.

With a 49-22 home record, Pittsburgh will hope to improve on their 86-56 overall mark. A.J. Burnett has a record of 8-5 while sporting an earned run average of 3.14 on the year with a 1.33 WHIP. He's pitched 140.1 innings thus far while surrendering 148 hits over that time in which the Pirates are 12-10. Against the over/under, the Pirates are 12-9 when he starts. His teammates score an average of 4.3 runs a game when he pitches. The bullpen's earned run average is currently at 2.73 and they have given up 404 hits on the season. Opposing teams are hitting .236 against the Pirates bullpen while walking 141 times and striking out 400 times. Pittsburgh is averaging 7.95 strikeouts per game while getting 8.42 hits per nine innings as a team. They rank 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 3.21.

They rank 8th in the league in team batting average with a .260 average while hitting .264 at home. Ranked at 8th in the league in on-base percentage, the Pirates sit at .324 and they hold a .398 team slugging percentage. Andrew McCutchen leads the team in hits with 150 while the team ranks 8th in baseball with 9.06 hits a game.

The Cubs have committed 95 errors and have combined for 1,455 assists and 3,832 put outs leading to a .982 team fielding percentage. The Pirates have committed 107 errors on the season with 1,662 assists and 3,917 put outs leading to a team fielding percentage of .981 on the year.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 64-69 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 68-74 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 67-63 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 63-79 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

08/25/15 P Jason Motte Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/24)
08/25/15 RF Jorge Soler Oblique Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (8/24)
07/29/15 P Neil Ramirez Abdominal Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/29)
04/06/15 P Jacob Turner Elbow Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (3/27)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/15/15 2B Neil Walker None is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Game #1 Tuesday vs. Chicago Cubs
09/15/15 1B Pedro Alvarez None is upgraded to expected to be in the starting lineup Game #1 Tuesday vs. Chicago Cubs
09/15/15 LF Starling Marte Illness is downgraded to not expected to be in the starting lineup Game #1 Tuesday vs. Chicago Cubs
09/02/15 P Casey Sadler Forearm Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (9/1)
08/08/15 P Deolis Guerra Knee Injury is on the 60 day disabled list (8/7)
07/19/15 CF Gorkys Hernandez Shoulder Injury is on the 15 day disabled list (7/13)
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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