Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 6/21/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-120) Pittsburgh (+100)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (34-37) will compete against the Chicago Cubs (34-38) at PNC Park on Wednesday. The odds on this game have Chicago at -120 while Pittsburgh is coming in at +100. The betting total comes in at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Kyle Hendricks and Rich Hill.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 4.5 runs/g, which puts them at 13th in baseball. They have 326 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .329. The Cubs have accumulated 103 doubles as a team and have hit 79 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accrued 315 runs batted in in addition to 599 base knocks this year, and their team batting average is .247. Chicago is slugging .395 and have been called out on strikes 666 times, while drawing a walk on 273 occasions.

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The Cubs have an ERA of 4.05 over the course of the season (11th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 589 hitters. Cubs pitchers have given up 72 home runs and 309 total runs (10th in baseball). They have walked 229 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.10 as a team on the year. Chicago has surrendered 580 base hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and also 285 earned runs. They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.57 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.28.

The Cubs have dispatched 224 relievers to the hill on the year. The relief pitchers have inherited 94 base runners so far this season with 28.7% of those players crossed the plate. They have earned 10 saves on the year and have not converted 6 of their 16 chances to save the game. The Cubs bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 62.5% and has entered the game in 51 save situations. The relievers have recorded 34 holds so far this year (24th in MLB). Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 57 times in addition to having 53 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs have amassed 1,902 putouts so far this season, as well as 641 assists and 36 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .986 which has them ranked 18th in MLB, and they have turned 67 double plays. The Cubs have turned 69.7% of balls hit into play into outs out of 5,706 innings on the diamond, which ranks them 10th in professional baseball.

Hendricks has taken the mound for 1,341 frames and has accumulated 1,095 K's during his MLB career. Hendricks (89-63 career record) has earned a FIP of 3.79 while he has faced 5,487 hitters during his time in the majors. His earned run average is 3.44 (513 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.148. He has given up 1,239 base knocks (8.3 hits per 9 innings) and has had 300 walks.

The Pirates have a team SLG% of .398 and they are scoring 4.23 runs per contest (21st in MLB). They have recorded 129 doubles, while walking 259 times as well as scoring 300 runs. Pittsburgh is sitting with 67 home runs for the season to go along with 286 runs batted in. They have struck out on 589 instances (22nd in MLB) and have 569 hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have tallied an OBP of .323 and a team batting average of .244 over the course of the season.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.398 in addition to having a FIP of 4.16 as a squad on the year. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.80 (612 strikeouts vs 261 walks). They rank 20th in baseball as a staff in total hits allowed with 610. They have surrendered 70 home runs and they surrender 4.80 runs per 9 innings (19th in MLB). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have surrendered 332 runs this year while having an ERA of 4.35 (301 earned runs conceded).

Pittsburgh has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 28 save chances and they have converted 19 saves. They sit at 8th in the league holding a save rate of 67.9%, and they have dispatched 219 bullpen pitchers to the hill on the campaign. Their relievers have come in 64 times in high leverage situations and also on 62 occasions with runners on. Pittsburgh relief pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 33.0% out of their 97 inherited runners. With 63 save situations, the Pirates have accrued 34 holds in addition to 9 blown saves.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 61 double plays and have a fielding rate of .982 (28th in the majors). The Pirates have accrued 570 assists, 44 errors and have earned 1,870 putouts for the season. Out of their 5,610 innings on the field, the Pirates have earned a efficiency on defense of 67.5% (28th in pro baseball).

Hill (88-65 record in his career) has earned a 3.87 earned run average while allowing 7.7 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.67 and he has gone up against 5,615 batters in his pro baseball career. He has surrendered a total of 575 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.238 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.0. So far in his pro baseball career, Hill has allowed 1,144 base knocks while tallying 1,366 punch outs in 1,336 frames.

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

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+100) and under 8.5 runs

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