Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 6/23/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2022

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-130) Pittsburgh (+110)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (28-39) will go up against the Chicago Cubs (25-43) at PNC Park on Thursday. The moneyline on this matchup has Chicago at -130 and Pittsburgh is priced at +110. The total has been set at 8. The starting pitchers are Justin Steele and Jose Quintana.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are notching 4.1 runs per outing, which ranks them 22nd in the league. They are sitting with 277 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .317. The Cubs have hit 110 doubles as a team and have knocked 66 balls out of the park. They have earned 257 RBI's and 555 hits so far this season, and their average at the plate sits at .242. Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .388 and have struck out 591 times, while taking a walk on 230 occasions.

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Cubs pitchers have relinquished 95 home runs and also 364 total runs (28th in MLB). They have walked 234 opposing players and their FIP is 4.51 as a squad this season. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.51 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.37. The Cubs are sitting with a team ERA of 4.95 so far this season (27th in the league), and their staff has struck out 587 hitters.

The Cubs relievers have recorded a save rate of 56.0% and has stepped onto the mound in 48 save situations. The relievers have inherited 87 runners on the campaign with 33.3% of them ended up crossing the plate. Cubs relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 64 times as well as having 66 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 226 relievers to the hill for the year. The relief pitchers have racked up 20 holds this season (29th in baseball). They have compiled 14 saves on the campaign and have not converted 11 out of their 25 chances to save the game.

The Chicago Cubs have accounted for 1,815 putouts for the season, as well as 614 assists and 36 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .985 which is 13th in MLB, and have a total of 59 double plays. The Cubs have converted 68.7% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 5,445 innings, which ranks them 25th in professional baseball.

Steele has taken the ball for 116 innings and is sitting with 112 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.27 (55 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.414. He has allowed 108 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) and has had 56 free passes. Steele (6-9 career record) has a FIP of 4.47 and he has faced 508 hitters during his time in the majors.

Pittsburgh has accounted for 63 home runs on the year as well as 223 runs batted in. They have put up 87 two-baggers, while walking 206 times and earning 240 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accumulated an OBP of .292 and a team batting average of .221 this season. The Pirates hold a team slugging percentage of .361 and they tally 3.58 runs per game (28th in MLB). They have been rung up on 602 occasions (6th in baseball) and have accounted for 480 base knocks.

The Pittsburgh pitching staff have given up 327 runs on the campaign and come in with a team ERA of 4.39 (286 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 74 homers and they relinquish 5.02 runs per 9 innings (25th in the league). The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.381 in addition to having a FIP of 4.36 as a squad for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.16 (531 strikeouts against 246 walks). They have a ranking of 18th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 563.

Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 34.3% out of 102 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 62 times in high leverage situations and also on 65 occasions with runners on. With 57 save situations, the Pirates have compiled 29 holds in addition to 10 blown saves. They are ranked 21st in baseball holding a save percentage of 60.0%, and they have dispatched 210 relievers to the hill so far this year. Pittsburgh has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the contest in 25 save opportunities and they have recorded 15 saves.

In 5,274 innings played, the Pirates have earned a efficiency on defense of 68.9% (20th in the majors). The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 54 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .978 (29th in pro baseball). The Pirates have accrued 606 assists, 53 errors and have accounted for 1,758 putouts this year.

During his pro baseball career, Quintana has surrendered 1,607 hits and he has 1,450 punch outs in 1,622 innings. Quintana (84-84 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a 3.83 ERA while allowing 8.9 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 690 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.286 and having a FIP of 3.7. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.03 and he has gone up against 6,814 hitters in his career.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+110)

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