Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 6/19/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Monday, June 19, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-125) Pittsburgh (+105)

The Chicago Cubs (33-38) are headed to PNC Park on Monday where they will attempt to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (34-35). The moneyline on this game has Chicago at -125 while Pittsburgh is priced at +105. The betting total comes in at 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Drew Smyly and Osvaldo Bido.

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 4.5 runs per contest, which puts them at 13th in the league. They have a total of 315 runs scored and hold an on-base percentage of .329. The Cubs have accounted for 102 two-baggers as a unit and have knocked 77 balls out of the park. They have amassed 304 RBI's in addition to 585 base knocks so far this season, while their team batting average comes in at .249. Chicago has a slugging % of .398 and have struck out 645 times, while being walked on 266 occasions.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.62 and their pitching staff sits with a WHIP of 1.27. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 71 home runs in addition to 303 runs in total (10th in the league). Chicago has surrendered 562 base knocks (8.2 per 9 innings) in addition to 280 earned runs. The Cubs have compiled a team earned run average of 4.09 for the year (13th in the league), and they have struck out 579 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 221 hitters and their FIP is 4.07 as a team for the year.

The Cubs relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 62.5% and has entered the game in 50 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 92 base runners for the season and 28.3% of those players crossed home plate. Cubs relief pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 55 times in addition to having 51 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 218 relievers to the hill on the season. The relief pitchers have 33 holds over the course of the season (23rd in baseball). They have recorded 10 saves for the year and have not converted 6 of 16 save opportunities.

The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 1,848 putouts thus far, in addition to 620 assists and 34 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .986 which has them ranked 13th in professional baseball, and they have twisted 64 double plays. The Cubs have turned 69.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of 5,544 innings on the diamond, ranking them 10th in MLB.

Smyly (59-51 record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 4.29 and he has faced 4,292 opposing batters in the major leagues. He has surrendered 975 base knocks (8.6 hits per nine innings) and has 313 free passes. His ERA is 4.06 (461 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.261. Smyly has pitched in 1,021 innings and has 987 K's during his MLB career.

The Pirates have a slugging percentage of .402 and they have an average of 4.32 runs per outing (20th in the league). They have tallied 127 doubles, while walking 250 times as well as racking up 298 runs. Pittsburgh is sitting with 66 HRs for the year and 284 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 571 instances (24th in MLB) and are sitting with 560 hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a team OBP of .324 as well as a batting average of .246 over the course of the season.

The Pirates have a WHIP of 1.393 and have a FIP of 4.16 as a squad this season. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.80 (594 strikeouts vs 250 bases on balls). They sit at 19th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits given up with 594. They have conceded 70 homers and they relinquish 4.74 runs per 9 innings (18th in baseball). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have allowed 319 runs on the campaign while holding a team ERA of 4.32 (291 earned runs yielded).

Sitting with 61 save situations, the Pirates have tallied 33 holds and also 8 blown saves. Pittsburgh has had relief pitchers take the mound in 27 save opportunities and they have converted 19 saves. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 61 times in high leverage situations and also on 57 occasions with base runners. Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score rate of 30.0% out of 90 inherited base runners. They are currently ranked 6th in MLB with a save percentage of 70.4%, and they have dispatched 212 bullpen pitchers to the mound on the season.

In their 5,457 innings on the diamond, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 67.6% (28th in the majors). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 61 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .983 (27th in baseball). The Pirates have recorded 553 assists, 42 errors and have earned 1,819 putouts over the course of the season.

During his career, Bido has surrendered 4 base hits while he has earned 6 strikeouts in 4 frames. He has allowed 1 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.750 and a FIP of 2.5. His K/BB ratio is 2.00 and he has gone up against 19 opposing hitters in his MLB career. Bido (0-0 mark in his career) has a 2.25 earned run average while giving up 9.0 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (-125)

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