Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/30/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Thursday, September 30, 2021

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-132) Pittsburgh (+105)

PNC Park is the venue where Max Kranick and the Pittsburgh Pirates (59-98, 5th in NL Central) will play the Chicago Cubs (67-90, 4th in NL Central) on Thursday. The Pirates open this matchup at +105 while the Cubs are coming in at -132. The total is set at 8. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Justin Steele and Max Kranick.

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are compiling 4.3 runs per game, which puts them at 21st in the league. They have earned a total of 681 runs scored while having a team OBP of .310. The Cubs have tallied 215 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 205 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accrued 649 runs batted in as well as 1,209 hits this season, and their team batting average is .235. Chicago is slugging .407 and have struck out 1,559 times, while taking a walk on 479 occasions.

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The Cubs have compiled a team earned run average of 4.96 this season (27th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 1,323 batters. Their K/BB ratio is 2.28 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.41. Cubs pitchers have given up 231 home runs and 826 runs (28th in MLB). They have walked 579 hitters and their FIP is 4.90 as a team this year.

The Cubs relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 69.1% and has entered the game in 129 save situations. The relievers have inherited 275 base runners this season and 36.0% of them crossed home plate. Cubs pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 167 times as well as having 167 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 584 relievers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have a total of 73 holds so far this year (16th in MLB). They have compiled 38 saves for the year and have blown 17 of their 55 save opportunities.

The Cubs have turned 69.0% of balls hit into play into outs in their 12,330 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 22nd in the majors. The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 4,110 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 1,503 assists and 85 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .985 which ranks 15th in MLB, and have a total of 1,007 double plays.

Steele (3-4 career mark) sits with a FIP of 6.06 while he has faced 224 opposing hitters during his time in the majors. He has conceded 46 base hits (8.3 hits per nine innings) and has 26 walks. His earned run average is 4.86 (27 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.440. Steele has pitched in 50 frames and has tallied 52 strikeouts during his pro baseball career.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have an OBP of .307 in addition to a team batting average of .235 on the year. They have struck out on 1,283 occasions (25th in the league) and have accounted for 1,213 hits. Pittsburgh has knocked in 122 home runs so far this year and 549 RBIs. The Pirates hold a slugging % of .362 and they earn 3.74 runs per game (30th in MLB). They have put up 235 two-baggers, while taking a walk 511 times and earning 587 runs.

The Pirates have a WHIP of 1.434 with a FIP of 4.74 as a squad on the season. They come in at 25th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,352. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have surrendered 807 runs on the season while holding an ERA of 5.08 (763 earned runs relinquished). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 2.17 (1,268 strikeouts vs 585 free passes). They have allowed 207 HR's and they yield 5.38 runs per 9 innings (27th in baseball).

Pittsburgh relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 34.0% of 194 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 128 times in high leverage situations and on 116 occasions with base runners. With 122 save situations, the Pirates have earned 73 holds and also 22 blown saves. They are ranked 26th in the league holding a save percentage of 52.2%, and they have dispatched 559 relief pitchers onto the field so far this year. Pittsburgh has had bullpen pitchers step onto the hill in 46 save opportunities and they have come away with 24 saves.

In 12,162 innings on the diamond, the Pirates have earned a defensive efficiency of 68.7% (24th in professional baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 134 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .987 (4th in pro baseball). The Pirates have racked up 1,339 assists, 69 errors and have a tally of 4,054 putouts so far this season.

During his career, Kranick has given up 42 base hits while tallying 30 punch outs in 34 innings pitched. Kranick (2-3 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 6.23 ERA while giving up 10.9 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed a total of 24 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.702 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.76 and he has gone up against 164 hitters so far in his pro baseball career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game ATS?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (-132)

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