Monday, September 26, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: Kyle Hendricks vs. Chad Kuhl

The Chicago Cubs head to PNC Park on Monday to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable pitchers are Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs and Chad Kuhl for the Pirates. The Cubs have a 69-77-8 over/under mark and a 81-73-0 run line record, meaning they cover 53% of the time. The Pirates are 72-82-0 against the run line and have a 84-66-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Cubs head into this game with a 98-56 record, and they are 42-32 on the road. Starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks has a 15-8 record with an ERA of 2.06 and a WHIP of 0.96. He has 161 strikeouts during his 179 innings pitched and he has given up 129 hits so far this year. He has surrendered 6.5 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.26. The bullpen this season has an earned run average of 3.45 and they have allowed 348 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .209 against the pen while they've been struck out 489 times and walked 187 times this year. As a unit, Chicago has given up 6.88 base hits per nine innings while striking out 8.88 hitters per nine. They are 1st in the Majors in team earned run average at 3.09. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 1,067 base hits and 482 earned runs. They have allowed 158 home runs this season and they allow 1.1 homers per nine innings as a staff. Chicago as a pitching staff has walked 470 batters and struck out 1,375. They walk 3 men per 9 innings while striking out 8.9 per 9. They have a team WHIP of 1.10 and their FIP as a unit is 3.77.

As a team, Chicago is hitting .256, good for 14th in the league while putting together a .258 average on the road. The Cubs have a .428 team slugging percentage and an OBP of .343 which is good for 2nd in the league. They rank 19th in baseball with 8.71 hits per contest. Anthony Rizzo comes into this game hitting .293 and his on-base percentage is at .389. He has 164 hits this season along with 90 runs scored and 105 runs batted in. He's struck out 103 times and has walked 73 times. Kris Bryant is hitting .295 and he has an on-base percentage of .388. He has totaled 172 hits so far while scoring 119 runs and he's driven in 99. He has walked 72 times and has struck out 149 times. The Cubs have 1,342 hits, including 278 doubles and 190 home runs. They've stolen 60 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 33 times. Chicago has walked 618 times this season and they've struck out 1,274 times as a unit. They've left 1,157 men on base and have a team OPS of .771. They score 4.96 runs per contest and have scored a total of 764 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this game with a 37-39 home mark and a 77-77 overall record. With an ERA of 3.73, Chad Kuhl has a 5-3 record and a 1.18 WHIP. He has 45 strikeouts over the 62.2 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 57 hits. He has allowed 8.2 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 3.9. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.36 and they have given up 517 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .244 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 506 times and walking 217 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.17 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.6 batters per nine. They are 14th in the league in team earned run average at 4.14. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,412 base knocks and 637 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 171 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 499 hitters and struck out 1,170. They give up a walk 3.2 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.6 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.38 while their FIP as a staff is 4.27.

As a team, they are batting .258, good for 10th in the league while putting together a .271 average at home. The Pirates hold a .404 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .334 which is good for 4th in baseball. They rank 9th in baseball with 8.87 hits per contest. Starling Marte comes into this matchup batting .311 and he has an OBP of .362. He has 152 hits this year along with 71 runs scored and 46 RBI. He's struck out 104 times and has walked on 23 occasions. Andrew McCutchen is hitting .258 and he has an OBP of .338. He has collected 148 hits so far while he's scored 80 runs and drove in 75. He has earned a walk 66 times and has punched out 137 times. The Pirates as a unit have 1,366 base hits, including 271 doubles and 147 homers. They have 105 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 43 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 536 times this year and they have struck out 1,258 times. They've had 1,119 men left on base and have an OPS of .738. They score 4.55 runs per game and have totaled 700 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 69-77-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 81-73-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 84-66-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 72-82-0 against the run line so far this season

Injuries to Watch

Chicago Cubs

04/08/16 C Kyle Schwarber Knee 60-day DL (4/8); out for season
04/04/16 P Aaron Brooks Hip 60-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 3B Christian Villanueva Fibula 15-day DL (3/25)
04/04/16 P Dallas Beeler Shoulder 60-day DL (3/25)
03/31/16 P Zac Rosscup Shoulder 60-day DL (2/25)

Pittsburgh Pirates

09/25/16 P AJ Schugel Shoulder 60-day DL (9/23)
09/24/16 RF Gregory Polanco Concussion "?" Sunday vs. Washington Nationals
09/24/16 SS Jordy Mercer Forearm "?" Sunday vs. Washington Nationals
09/24/16 LF Starling Marte Back likely out for season
09/14/16 C Chris Stewart Knee 60-day DL (9/13)
09/14/16 C Elias Diaz Knee 60-day DL (9/13), out for season
09/14/16 P Gerrit Cole Elbow 60-day DL (9/13), out for season
09/12/16 2B Josh Harrison Groin 15-day DL (9/10), out for season

Tony's Pick: Take the Pirates

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