Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 6/20/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-145) Pittsburgh (+125)

The Chicago Cubs (33-38) are headed to PNC Park on Tuesday where they will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (34-36). The moneyline on this contest has Chicago at -145 and Pittsburgh is at +125. The total has been set at 8. The starting pitchers are Marcus Stroman and Johan Oviedo.

As a team, the Chicago Cubs are scoring 4.5 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 13th in the league. They have accounted for 318 runs while holding a team OBP of .328. The Cubs have accumulated 102 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 79 baseballs out of the stadium. They have 307 runs batted in in addition to 588 hits for the year, and their team batting average is at .247. Chicago has a slugging rate of .396 and have struck out 656 times, while drawing a walk on 268 occasions.

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The Cubs have an earned run average of 4.12 this season (13th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 582 hitters. Cubs pitchers have yielded 72 home runs and 309 runs in total (12th in the league). They have walked 223 opposing players and their FIP is 4.10 as a unit so far this year. Chicago has conceded 576 hits (8.3 per 9 innings) and 286 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.61 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.28.

The Cubs have sent 221 relief pitchers to the hill on the campaign. The relief pitchers have inherited 94 runners so far this season with 28.7% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have 10 saves so far this year and have blown 6 of 16 save opportunities. The Cubs relief pitchers have accumulated a save rate of 62.5% and has stepped onto the mound in 50 save situations. The relief pitchers have accumulated 33 holds this year (25th in the league). Cubs bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 57 times in addition to having 53 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Cubs have turned 69.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 5,625 innings on the field, which has them sitting 10th in MLB. The Chicago Cubs have a tally of 1,875 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 634 assists and 34 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .987 which puts them in 12th in MLB, and they have twisted 67 double plays.

Stroman has thrown 1,258 innings and has accounted for 1,050 K's in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 3.53 (494 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.236. He has given up 1,199 base hits (8.6 hits per nine innings) and has 357 free passes. Stroman (75-71 career mark) has earned a FIP of 3.62 while he has faced 5,209 opposing hitters during his time in the majors.

Pittsburgh has compiled 67 home runs this season as well as 286 RBIs. They have notched 128 two-baggers, while walking 253 times as well as putting up 300 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates hold an OBP of .323 as well as a team batting average of .245 so far this season. The Pirates hold a slugging percentage of .401 and they are recording 4.29 runs per contest (21st in baseball). They have struck out on 582 instances (23rd in MLB) and have earned a total of 564 base hits.

The Pirates have a WHIP of 1.394 with a FIP of 4.16 as a pitching staff over the course of the season. They are currently ranked 18th in MLB as a staff in total hits surrendered with 600. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have given up 324 runs this season while having a team ERA of 4.34 (296 earned runs surrendered). Their K/BB ratio is 8.80 (602 strikeouts against 256 free passes). They have allowed 70 long balls and they relinquish 4.75 runs per 9 innings (18th in baseball).

Sitting with 63 save situations, the Pirates have earned 34 holds and 9 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 28 save opportunities and they have earned 19 saves. Their relief pitchers have come in 64 times in high leverage situations and on 60 occasions with base runners. Pittsburgh relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 32.6% of 95 inherited runners. They are ranked 8th in baseball holding a save percentage of 67.9%, and they have dispatched 216 bullpen pitchers to the hill this season.

In 5,529 innings on the diamond, the Pirates have accumulated a efficiency on defense of 67.6% (27th in pro baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 61 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .982 (27th in pro baseball). The Pirates have recorded 562 assists, 43 errors and have a total of 1,843 putouts this year.

Oviedo (7-17 career mark) has earned a 4.36 ERA while surrendering 8.6 hits per nine innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 1.83 and he has faced 986 batters thus far in his career. He has surrendered 106 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.441 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.4. Thus far in his career, Oviedo has given up 210 hits while accumulating 192 strikeouts in 218 innings pitched.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+125)

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