Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 8/25/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Friday, August 25, 2023

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PNC Park is the location where the Pittsburgh Pirates (57-70) will attempt to beat the Chicago Cubs (66-60) on Friday. The expected starting pitchers will be Kyle Hendricks and Mitch Keller.

The Cubs have tallied 201 two-baggers as a team and have hit 154 baseballs out of the park. Chicago has a slugging rate of .420 and have been called out on strikes 1,125 times, while taking a walk on 448 occasions. As a team, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 5.1 runs per contest, which has them at 5th in MLB. They have earned 610 RBI's as well as 1,085 base knocks on the season, while their batting average is .254. They have accounted for 636 runs scored and have an OBP of .330.

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The Cubs have a team ERA of 4.20 this season (16th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 1,041 hitters. Cubs pitchers have relinquished 141 home runs and also 570 runs in total (17th in the league). They have walked 394 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.24 as a team for the year. Chicago has surrendered 1,037 base hits (8.4 per 9 innings) as well as 520 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.64 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.28.

The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 70.3% and has entered the game in 102 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 168 runners so far this season and 28.0% of them earned a run for their team. Cubs relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 99 times as well as having 102 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have dispatched 392 relievers to the hill over the course of the season. The relievers are sitting with 64 holds on the campaign (19th in the league). They have accumulated 26 saves over the course of the season and have blown 11 of their 37 save opportunities.

The Chicago Cubs have amassed 3,342 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 1,146 assists and 67 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .985 which has them ranked 17th in MLB, and they have turned 108 double plays. The Cubs have turned 69.6% of baseballs in play into outs in their 10,026 innings on the field, which ranks them 10th in MLB.

Hendricks (92-67 record in his career) holds a FIP of 3.82 while going up against 5,781 opposing batters during his time in the major leagues. He has allowed 1,311 base knocks (8.4 hits per nine innings) with 311 free passes. His earned run average is 3.48 (546 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.149. Hendricks has taken the mound for 1,411 innings and has accumulated 1,143 K's so far in his MLB career.

The Pittsburgh Pirates hold a team on-base percentage of .315 as well as a batting average of .236 for the season. They have been rung up on 1,128 occasions (11th in the league) and have totaled 993 hits. Pittsburgh is sitting with 125 home runs so far this year and 511 runs batted in. The Pirates hold a team SLG% of .389 and they average 4.20 runs per contest (24th in MLB). They have hit 224 doubles, while taking a walk 449 times and recording 534 runs.

The Pittsburgh pitching staff have surrendered 617 runs on the season while holding a team ERA of 4.56 (567 earned runs conceded). They have given up 140 HR's and they surrender 4.97 runs per 9 innings (22nd in the league). The Pirates have a team WHIP of 1.402 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.37 as a team on the campaign. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.80 (1,095 strikeouts against 468 bases on balls). They rank 23rd in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,100.

Pittsburgh has called on relievers to enter the game in 49 save chances and they have earned 34 saves. They are currently ranked 7th in baseball holding a save percentage of 69.4%, and they have dispatched 407 bullpen pitchers to the hill for the season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 127 times in high leverage situations and on 129 occasions with base runners. Pittsburgh bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 32.1% of 193 inherited runners. With 115 save situations, the Pirates have amassed 63 holds in addition to 15 blown saves.

In 10,068 innings on the diamond, the Pirates hold a defensive efficiency of 67.8% (26th in baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 108 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .983 (25th in professional baseball). The Pirates have recorded 1,053 assists, 75 errors and have accumulated 3,356 putouts for the year.

So far in his career, Keller has given up 526 base knocks and he has 484 punch outs in 485 innings pitched. Keller (22-37 career win-loss record) has a 4.75 ERA and has given up 9.8 hits per 9 innings. He has surrendered 256 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.476 and a FIP of 4.0. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.55 and he has faced 2,136 batters in his pro baseball career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago

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