Monday, May 2, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jason Hammel vs. Gerrit Cole

The Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park on Monday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Jason Hammel for the Cubs and Gerrit Cole for the Pirates. The Cubs have a 12-8-2 over/under record and a 16-6-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 73% of the time. The Pirates are 14-10-0 against the run line and have a 15-9-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 58% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 17-5 record, including 10-3 on the road. Starting pitcher Jason Hammel has a 3-0 record with an earned run average of 0.75 and a WHIP of 1.04. He has 22 strikeouts over his 24 innings pitched and he has given up 16 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 2.47. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.06 and they have given up 34 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .178 against the bullpen while being struck out 66 times and walking 18 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.35 hits per nine innings while striking out 9.15 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.48. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 138 base hits and 52 earned runs. They have allowed 15 home runs this season and they allow 0.7 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 54 batters and struck out 199. They walk 2.5 men per 9 innings while striking out 9.2 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 0.98 and their FIP as a unit is 2.88.

As a team, Chicago is batting .255, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .276 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .432 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .255 which is good for 12th in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.55 hits per game. Anthony Rizzo comes into this game hitting .218 and his on-base percentage is at .384. He has 17 hits this season along with 16 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. He's struck out 14 times and has walked 18 times. Kris Bryant is hitting .289 and he has an on-base percentage of .372. He has totaled 24 hits so far while scoring 17 runs and he's driven in 15. He has walked 9 times and has struck out 18 times. The Cubs have 188 hits, including 41 doubles and 28 home runs. They've stolen 12 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 5 times. Chicago has walked 121 times this season and they've struck out 167 times as a unit. They've left 172 men on base and have a team OPS of .796. They score 6.18 runs per contest and have scored a total of 136 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 7-3 home record and a 15-9 overall mark. With an earned run average of 2.78, Gerrit Cole has a 2-2 record and a 1.19 WHIP. He has 19 strikeouts over the 22.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 21 hits. He has allowed 8.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 2.75. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.36 and they have given up 81 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .240 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 81 times and walking 45 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.62 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.21 batters per nine. They are 20th in the league in team earned run average at 4.10. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 210 base knocks and 100 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 32 home runs this year and they give up 1.3 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 104 hitters and struck out 200. They give up a walk 4.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.2 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.43 while their FIP as a staff is 4.66.

As a team, they are batting .293, good for 1st in the league while putting together a .294 average at home. The Pirates hold a .448 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .293 which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 10.42 hits per contest. Andrew McCutchen comes into this matchup batting .226 and he has an OBP of .339. He has 21 hits this year along with 16 runs scored and 10 RBI. He's struck out 25 times and has walked on 14 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .323 and he has an OBP of .374. He has collected 32 hits so far while he's scored 15 runs and drove in 12. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 22 times. The Pirates as a unit have 250 base hits, including 56 doubles and 22 homers. They have 16 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 9 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 105 times this year and they have struck out 183 times. They've had 209 men left on base and have an OPS of .826. They score 5.33 runs per game and have totaled 128 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 12-8-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 16-6-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 15-9-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 14-10-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

04/30/16 LF Kris Bryant Ankle "?" Sunday vs. Atlanta Braves
04/28/16 C Miguel Montero Back 15-day DL (4/25)
04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Pittsburgh Pirates

04/14/16 P Cory Luebke Hamstring 15-day DL (4/14)
04/04/16 3B Jung-ho Kang Knee 15-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow 15-day DL (3/25)

Tony's Pick: Take the Cubs

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