Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/22/2022 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Thursday, September 22, 2022

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates (55-93) welcome the Chicago Cubs (63-85) at PNC Park on Thursday. The expected starting pitchers will be Hayden Wesneski and Mitch Keller.

The Cubs have accounted for 240 doubles as a squad and have smacked 148 balls out of the park. Chicago has a slugging rate of .389 and have struck out 1,312 times, while taking a walk on 453 occasions. As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are knocking in 4.0 runs per game, which puts them at 23rd in baseball. They have accrued 562 RBI's and 1,196 base knocks this season, while their average at the plate is .240. They have accounted for 594 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .311.

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The Cubs have an earned run average of 4.21 so far this season (21st in the league), and their staff has rung up 1,262 hitters. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.54 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.33. Cubs pitchers have allowed 198 long balls and also 698 runs in total (23rd in MLB). They have walked 496 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.42 as a team this season.

The Cubs have sent 490 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. The relievers have inherited 209 runners on the year with 30.6% of them earned a run for their team. They have compiled 37 saves this season and have blown 29 of 66 save opportunities. The Cubs relief pitchers have recorded a save rate of 56.1% and has entered the game in 120 save situations. The bullpen have racked up 50 holds this year (30th in baseball). Cubs pitchers have come into the game with opponents on base 152 times and also have had 173 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs have 3,962 putouts this season, in addition to 1,345 assists and 86 errors. Their fielding rate is at .984 which puts them in 21st in the majors, and they have twisted 130 double plays. The Cubs have converted 69.4% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 11,886 innings on the diamond, ranking them 16th in professional baseball.

Wesneski has taken the ball for 15 innings and has accumulated 18 K's during his pro baseball career. Wesneski (1-1 mark in his career) sits with a FIP of 2.86 and he has faced 59 hitters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 2.30 (4 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 0.702. He has given up 9 base knocks (5.2 hits per 9 innings) and has 2 walks.

The Pirates have a slugging percentage of .364 and they are recording 3.59 runs per outing (27th in baseball). They have hit 193 doubles, while getting a free base 418 times and earning 531 runs. Pittsburgh has recorded 150 HRs so far this year to go along with 500 RBIs. They have struck out on 1,390 occasions (2nd in MLB) and have earned 1,077 base hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accumulated an OBP of .287 as well as a team batting average of .221 for the year.

The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.432 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.31 as a team for the year. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.11 (1,128 strikeouts against 535 bases on balls). They are sitting at 27th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits allowed with 1,321. They have yielded 151 dingers and they give up 5.18 runs per 9 innings (28th in MLB). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have conceded 746 runs so far this season and come in with a team ERA of 4.67 (673 earned runs surrendered).

Pittsburgh has called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 55 save opportunities and they have walked away with 30 saves. They are currently ranked 29th in baseball with a save rate of 54.5%, and they have sent 458 relievers to the mound over the course of the season. Their relievers have stepped onto the hill 150 times in high leverage situations and also on 138 occasions with runners on base. Pittsburgh relievers have an inherited score percentage of 37.6% out of their 210 inherited runners. With 122 save situations, the Pirates have amassed 64 holds in addition to 25 blown saves.

In 11,664 innings on the field, the Pirates have earned a efficiency on defense of 67.5% (28th in MLB). The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 142 double plays and have a fielding rate of .980 (30th in the majors). The Pirates have 1,387 assists, 108 errors and have 3,888 putouts for the year.

In his pro baseball career, Keller has surrendered 359 base knocks while he has totaled 294 punch outs in 313 frames. Keller (12-28 career record) has a 5.11 ERA and has given up 10.3 hits per nine innings. He has given up 178 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.580 and having a FIP of 4.1. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.16 and he has faced 1,400 batters during his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago

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