Tuesday, September 27, 2016

PNC Park

For Updated Odds on This Game Click Here

Probable Pitchers: John Lackey vs. Ryan Vogelsong

The Chicago Cubs visit PNC Park on Tuesday to play the Pittsburgh Pirates. The probable starters are John Lackey for the Cubs and Ryan Vogelsong for the Pirates. The opening line for this matchup has Chicago at -171 and Pittsburgh at +161. The over/under was set at 8. The Cubs have a 69-78-8 over/under record and a 82-73-0 run line mark, meaning they cover 53% of the time. The Pirates are 72-83-0 against the run line and have a 85-66-4 over/under record. They cover the spread 47% of the time.

The Cubs head into this matchup with a 99-56 record, including 42-32 on the road. Starting pitcher John Lackey has a 10-8 record with an earned run average of 3.39 and a WHIP of 1.04. He has 177 strikeouts over his 183.1 innings pitched and he has given up 141 hits so far this season. He has allowed 6.9 hits per 9 innings and he has a FIP of 3.8. The bullpen this year has an earned run average of 3.45 and they have given up 350 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .209 against the bullpen while being struck out 493 times and walking 189 times this season. As a team, Chicago has allowed 6.87 hits per nine innings while striking out 8.89 batters per nine. They are 1st in the league in team earned run average at 3.07. The Cubs pitchers have collectively given up 1,072 base hits and 483 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 473 batters and struck out 1,386. 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 3.76.

As a team, Chicago is batting .256, good for 14th in the league while putting together a .258 average away from home. The Cubs hold a .428 team slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .343 which is good for 2nd in baseball. They rank 18th in baseball with 8.71 hits per game. Anthony Rizzo comes into this game hitting .291 and his on-base percentage is at .386. 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 .294 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 74 times and has struck out 150 times. The Cubs have 1,350 hits, including 280 doubles and 191 home runs. They've stolen 63 bases while they've been thrown out stealing 33 times. Chicago has walked 623 times this season and they've struck out 1,284 times as a unit. They've left 1,166 men on base and have a team OPS of .771. They score 4.95 runs per contest and have scored a total of 767 runs so far this year.

Pittsburgh comes into this matchup with a 37-40 home record and a 77-78 overall mark. With an earned run average of 4.85, Ryan Vogelsong has a 3-6 record and a 1.44 WHIP. He has 55 strikeouts over the 72.1 innings he's pitched during which he has given up 72 hits. He has allowed 9 hits per nine innings and his FIP stands at 5.04. So far this season the bullpen has an earned run average of 3.42 and they have given up 524 base hits on the year. Teams are hitting .244 against the Pirates bullpen while being struck out 514 times and walking 222 times this season. As a team, Pittsburgh has allowed 9.2 hits per nine innings while striking out 7.64 batters per nine. They are 15th in the league in team earned run average at 4.18. The Pirates pitchers as a team have surrendered 1,426 base knocks and 648 earned runs so far this season. They have given up 172 home runs this year and they give up 1.1 home runs per nine innings as a staff. Pittsburgh as a staff has walked 505 hitters and struck out 1,183. They give up a walk 3.3 times per 9 innings while they strike out 7.6 per 9. Their team WHIP is 1.39 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 .270 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 8.86 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 .259 and he has an OBP of .339. He has collected 149 hits so far while he's scored 81 runs and drove in 75. He has earned a walk 67 times and has punched out 138 times. The Pirates as a unit have 1,373 base hits, including 272 doubles and 148 homers. They have 105 stolen bases while they've been thrown out 44 times. Pittsburgh as a team has walked 541 times this year and they have struck out 1,268 times. They've had 1,123 men left on base and have an OPS of .738. They score 4.56 runs per game and have totaled 707 runs so far this season.

Chicago Cubs Betting Trends

The Chicago Cubs are 69-78-8 against the over/under so far this season

The Chicago Cubs are 82-73-0 against the run line so far this season

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 85-66-4 against the over/under so far this season

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 72-83-0 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)
09/25/16 RF Gregory Polanco Concussion "?" Monday vs. Chicago Cubs
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

Guy's Pick: Take the Cubs

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