Sunday, July 10, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: John Lackey vs. Jon Niese

The Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park on Sunday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are John Lackey for the Cubs and Jon Niese for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -147 and Pittsburgh at +137. The over/under was set at 8.5. The Cubs have a 44-38-4 over/under record and a 45-41-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 52% of the time. The Pirates are 43-44-0 against the run line and have a 52-34-1 over/under record. They cover the spread 49% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 52-34 record, including 26-20 on the road. Starting pitcher John Lackey has a 7-5 record with an earned run average of 3.50 and a WHIP of 1.08. He has 111 strikeouts over his 110.2 innings pitched and he has given up 86 hits so far this season. He has allowed 7 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.66. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.71 and they have given up 197 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .213 against the bullpen while being struck out 252 times and walking 108 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 7.06 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.8 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 3.19. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 611 base hits and 279 earned runs. They have allowed 86 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 266 batters and struck out 759. They walk 3.1 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.8 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.13 and their FIP as a unit is 3.82.

As a team, Chicago is batting .253, good for 16th in the league while putting together a .261 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .434 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .346 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 16th in baseball with 8.6 hits per game. Anthony Rizzo comes into this game hitting .282 and his on-base percentage is at .405. He has 84 hits this season along with 52 runs scored and 62 runs batted in. He's struck out 54 times and has walked 50 times. Kris Bryant is hitting .280 and he has an on-base percentage of .376. He has totaled 90 hits so far while scoring 69 runs and he's driven in 64. He has walked 41 times and has struck out 87 times. The Cubs have 740 hits, including 152 doubles and 118 home runs. They've stolen 33 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 18 times. Chicago has walked 369 times this season and they've struck out 747 times as a unit. They've left 646 men on base and have a team OPS of .780. They score 5.21 runs per contest and have scored a total of 448 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 23-19 home record and a 45-42 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.87, Jon Niese has a 7-6 record and a 1.53 WHIP. He has 68 strikeouts over the 98 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 116 hits. He has allowed 10.7 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.44. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.75 and they have given up 286 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .248 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 245 times and walking 122 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.15 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.13 batters per nine. They are 16th in the league in team earned run average at 4.33. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 793 base knocks and 375 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 100 home runs this year and they give up 1.2 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 306 hitters and struck out 618. They give up a walk 3.5 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.1 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.41 while their FIP as a staff is 4.56.

As a team, they are batting .265, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .275 average at home. The Pirates hold a .411 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .336 which is good for 3rd in baseball. They rank 8th in baseball with 9.17 hits per contest. Starling Marte comes into this matchup batting .316 and he has an OBP of .360. He has 97 hits this year along with 46 runs scored and 32 RBI. He's struck out 69 times and has walked on 11 occasions. Gregory Polanco is hitting .287 and he has an OBP of .362. He has collected 86 hits so far while he's scored 50 runs and drove in 50. He has earned a walk 38 times and has punched out 71 times. The Pirates as a unit have 798 base hits, including 159 doubles and 82 homers. They have 65 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 22 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 285 times this year and they have struck out 725 times. They've had 647 men left on base and have an OPS of .748. They score 4.67 runs per game and have totaled 406 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 44-38-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 45-41-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 52-34-1 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 43-44-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

07/08/16 P Jason Hammel Hand left last game, "?" for next scheduled start
07/06/16 C David Ross Concussion 7-day DL (7/5)
07/03/16 2B Chris Coghlan Ribs 15-day DL (7/3)
06/21/16 P Clayton Richard Finger 15-day DL (6/21)
06/20/16 CF Dexter Fowler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/19)
06/07/16 LF Jorge Soler Hamstring 15-day DL (6/6)
05/18/16 P Joe Nathan Elbow 60-day DL (5/17)
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

07/09/16 RF Gregory Polanco Hamstring injured last game, "?" Saturday vs. Chicago Cubs
07/06/16 P Jon Niese Knee expected to start Sunday vs. Chicago Cubs
07/04/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 15-day DL (7/2)
07/04/16 P Jameson Taillon Shoulder 15-day DL (6/30)
06/14/16 P Gerrit Cole Tricep 15-day DL (6/9)
06/11/16 C Francisco Cervelli Hand 15-day DL (6/10)
05/24/16 P Ryan Vogelsong Eye 60-day DL (5/24)
03/31/16 C Elias Diaz Elbow 60-day DL (3/25)

Guy's Pick: Take the Cubs

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