Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/19/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Pittsburgh Pirates (70-80) are on their way to Wrigley Field on Tuesday where they will take on the Chicago Cubs (78-72). The pitchers expected to start will be Bailey Falter and Javier Assad.

As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 4.2 runs per game, which has them sitting at 25th in the league. They have accounted for 628 runs while having a team OBP of .312. The Pirates have accounted for 263 two-baggers as a team and have knocked 146 baseballs out of the park. They have amassed 603 runs batted in in addition to 1,178 hits on the year, while their average at the plate comes in at .237. Pittsburgh owns a slugging percentage of .389 and have been called out on strikes 1,327 times, while being walked on 511 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.30 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.38. Pirates pitchers have allowed 160 long balls in addition to 719 total runs (20th in MLB). Pittsburgh has surrendered 1,272 hits (8.6 per 9 innings) and 661 earned runs. The Pirates hold a team ERA of 4.49 this year (20th in baseball), and they have struck out 1,262 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 549 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 4.34 as a unit this season.

Pirates pitchers have entered the game with runners on 146 times in addition to having 154 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have tallied 80 holds on the season (15th in the league). The Pirates relievers have compiled a save rate of 69.4% and has come into the game in 145 save situations. They have accumulated 43 saves for the year and have blown 19 out of their 62 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 218 base runners on the year with 32.6% of those players ended up scoring. The Pirates have sent 481 relief pitchers to the hill this year.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,974 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 1,277 assists and 85 errors. Their fielding rate is at .984 which ranks 22nd in pro baseball, and have accumulated 123 double plays. The Pirates have transformed 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 11,922 innings on the field, which has them sitting 19th in professional baseball.

Falter (10-13 career win-loss record) has earned a FIP of 4.48 while going up against 813 batters during his time in the majors. He has allowed 203 hits (9.4 hits per 9 innings) with 40 walks. His ERA is 4.38 (95 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.244. Falter has taken the ball for 195 innings and has totaled 166 strikeouts so far in his MLB career.

The Chicago Cubs are sitting with an on-base percentage of .328 and a batting average of .254 over the course of the season. They have struck out on 1,294 occasions (16th in baseball) and have accounted for 1,292 base knocks. Chicago has 178 home runs this season to go along with 718 runs batted in. The Cubs have a team SLG% of .417 and they average 4.99 runs per contest (7th in MLB). They have hit 245 doubles, while walking 521 times as well as racking up 749 runs.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.272 and have a FIP of 4.15 as a staff on the year. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (1,257 strikeouts against 463 bases on balls). They sit at 14th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,229. They have yielded 164 dingers and they concede 4.49 runs per 9 innings (14th in baseball). The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 663 runs on the season while having an ERA of 4.05 (599 earned runs allowed).

Chicago relievers have an inherited score percentage of 28.3% out of their 205 inherited base runners. Their relievers have come in 136 times in high leverage situations and also on 125 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 127 save situations, the Cubs have recorded 76 holds in addition to 18 blown saves. They sit at 12th in the league holding a save percentage of 64.0%, and they have sent 465 relief pitchers onto the field over the course of the season. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to take the mound in 50 save chances and they have earned 32 saves.

In their 11,970 innings on the diamond, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency of 69.6% (13th in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 127 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .985 (18th in pro baseball). The Cubs have 1,380 assists, 83 errors and have earned a total of 3,990 putouts for the year.

Assad (5-5 career record) has earned a 3.11 ERA while allowing 7.9 hits per 9 innings. His K/BB ratio is 1.74 and he has faced 557 batters thus far in his career. He has surrendered 46 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.313 and a FIP of 4.5. During his pro baseball career, Assad has given up 117 base knocks and he has 101 K's in 133 innings pitched.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Chicago

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