Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 6/15/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (29-37) will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (34-31) on Thursday. The expected starting pitchers are Rich Hill and Marcus Stroman.

Pittsburgh is slugging .406 and have been called out on strikes 538 times, while being walked on 238 occasions. They have recorded 272 RBI's as well as 532 hits this year, while their team batting average is .248. The Pirates have tallied 122 doubles as a squad and have knocked 62 baseballs out of the stadium. They have earned a total of 286 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .327. As a unit, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 4.4 runs per contest, which ranks them 20th in MLB.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.42 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.37. Pirates pitchers have surrendered 67 home runs and 292 total runs (12th in the league). Pittsburgh has surrendered 558 base hits (8.7 per 9 innings) as well as 266 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.17 this year (15th in baseball), and the staff has rung up 552 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 228 hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.18 as a squad so far this season.

The Pirates relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 73.1% and has entered the game in 60 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 81 runners so far this season with 27.2% of those players ended up scoring. Pirates relief pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 53 times as well as having 59 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have dispatched 199 relievers to the hill for the season. The bullpen have accumulated 33 holds this year (22nd in the league). They have compiled 19 saves for the year and have blown 7 of their 26 save chances.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have accounted for 1,723 putouts for the season, as well as 527 assists and 40 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .983 which ranks 26th in pro baseball, and they have twisted 58 double plays. The Pirates have turned 68.0% of balls in play into outs in their 5,169 innings on the diamond, ranking them 24th in professional baseball.

Hill (88-64 career mark) is the owner of a FIP of 4.01 while he has gone up against 5,591 hitters in the major leagues. He has given up 1,141 base hits (7.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 505 walks. His ERA is 3.87 (572 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.236. Hill has taken the ball for 1,331 frames and is sitting with 1,361 K's during his pro baseball career.

The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .393 and they are earning 4.32 runs per contest (21st in baseball). They have recorded 93 two-baggers, while taking a walk 247 times as well as earning 285 runs. Chicago has 74 HRs over the course of the season to go along with 275 runs batted in. They have struck out on 610 occasions (6th in the league) and have a total of 544 hits. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with a team on-base percentage of .325 as well as a batting average of .245 this season.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.278 with a FIP of 4.12 as a unit for the season. They are currently ranked 6th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 528. The Chicago pitching staff have yielded 290 runs for the year while having a team ERA of 4.16 (268 earned runs relinquished). They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (545 strikeouts against 213 walks). They have given up 67 homers and they surrender 4.50 runs per 9 innings (14th in MLB).

Chicago has had relief pitchers take the mound in 15 save chances and they have earned 9 saves. They are ranked 19th in baseball with a save rate of 60.0%, and they have dispatched 206 relievers to the hill this season. Their relief pitchers have come in 48 times in high leverage situations and also on 55 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 28.3% out of their 92 inherited base runners. Sitting with 44 save situations, the Cubs have tallied 28 holds in addition to 6 blown saves.

In 5,220 innings on the diamond, the Cubs have a efficiency on defense of 69.8% (11th in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 64 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (15th in professional baseball). The Cubs have 589 assists, 32 errors and are sitting with 1,740 putouts this year.

During his pro baseball career, Stroman has given up 1,195 base knocks while totaling 1,045 K's in 1,252 innings. He has given up a total of 492 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.237 and having a FIP of 3.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.94 and he has gone up against 5,185 batters so far in his MLB career. Stroman (74-71 career mark) has earned a 3.53 earned run average while surrendering 8.6 hits per nine innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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