Wednesday, May 4, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Jon Lester vs. Juan Nicasio

The Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park on Wednesday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are Jon Lester for the Cubs and Juan Nicasio for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -130 and Pittsburgh at +120. The over/under was set at 7. The Cubs have a 14-8-2 over/under record and a 17-7-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 71% of the time. The Pirates are 14-12-0 against the run line and have a 17-9-0 over/under record. They cover the spread 54% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 18-6 record, including 11-3 on the road. Starting pitcher Jon Lester has a 2-1 record with an earned run average of 1.83 and a WHIP of 0.93. He has 33 strikeouts over his 34.1 innings pitched and he has given up 25 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.6 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.28. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 2.59 and they have given up 38 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .180 against the bullpen while being struck out 74 times and walking 21 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.29 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.89 batters per nine. They are 2nd in the league in team earned run average at 2.47. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 150 base hits and 57 earned runs. They have allowed 16 home runs this season and they allow 0.7 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 61 batters and struck out 212. They walk 2.6 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 0.98 and their FIP as a unit is 2.96.

As a team, Chicago is batting .253, good for 12th in the league while putting together a .278 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .420 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .361 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 11th in baseball with 8.54 hits per game. Anthony Rizzo comes into this game hitting .230 and his on-base percentage is at .385. He has 20 hits this season along with 18 runs scored and 25 runs batted in. He's struck out 15 times and has walked 19 times. Kris Bryant is hitting .289 and he has an on-base percentage of .385. He has totaled 26 hits so far while scoring 18 runs and he's driven in 16. He has walked 12 times and has struck out 22 times. The Cubs have 205 hits, including 46 doubles and 28 home runs. They've stolen 17 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 6 times. Chicago has walked 129 times this season and they've struck out 188 times as a unit. They've left 190 men on base and have a team OPS of .781. They score 6.08 runs per contest and have scored a total of 146 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 7-5 home record and a 15-11 overall mark. With an earned run average of 3.33, Juan Nicasio has a 3-2 record and a 1.15 WHIP. He has 29 strikeouts over the 27 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 19 hits. He has allowed 6.3 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.7. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 4.27 and they have given up 90 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .242 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 85 times and walking 49 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 8.61 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.12 batters per nine. They are 19th in the league in team earned run average at 4.17. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 229 base knocks and 111 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 32 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 114 hitters and struck out 216. They give up a walk 4.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 8.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.43 while their FIP as a staff is 4.56.

As a team, they are batting .287, good for 1st in the league while putting together a .281 average at home. The Pirates hold a .443 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .373 which is good for 1st in baseball. They rank 1st in baseball with 10.23 hits per contest. Andrew McCutchen comes into this matchup batting .228 and he has an OBP of .339. He has 23 hits this year along with 18 runs scored and 12 RBI. He's struck out 27 times and has walked on 15 occasions. Starling Marte is hitting .327 and he has an OBP of .379. He has collected 35 hits so far while he's scored 16 runs and drove in 13. He has earned a walk 3 times and has punched out 23 times. The Pirates as a unit have 266 base hits, including 57 doubles and 25 homers. They have 17 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 10 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 113 times this year and they have struck out 204 times. They've had 224 men left on base and have an OPS of .816. They score 5.19 runs per game and have totaled 135 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 14-8-2 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 17-7-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 17-9-0 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 14-12-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

05/03/16 CF Matt Szczur Hamstring is downgraded to doubtful Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
05/02/16 RF Jason Heyward Wrist "?" Tuesday vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
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

05/03/16 LF Starling Marte Rest is not expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday vs. Chicago Cubs
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)

Josh'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 Josh Schonwald