Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/20/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Chicago Cubs (78-72) host the Pittsburgh Pirates (70-80) at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. The expected starting pitchers will be Quinn Priester and Justin Steele.

The Pirates have hit 263 two-baggers as a team and have hit 146 balls out of the park. Pittsburgh has a slugging % of .389 and have been called out on strikes 1,327 times, while being walked on 511 occasions. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are putting up 4.2 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 24th in MLB. They have compiled 603 RBI's and 1,178 base knocks this year, and their average at the plate is at .237. They have racked up 628 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .312.

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The Pirates are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.49 this season (20th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 1,262 batters. Pirates pitchers have relinquished 160 home runs and 719 runs in total (20th in the league). They have walked 549 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.33 as a unit on the year. Pittsburgh has surrendered 1,272 base hits (8.6 per 9 innings) as well as 661 earned runs. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.30 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.38.

Pirates relief pitchers have entered the contest with opponents on base 146 times and also have had 154 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers are sitting with 80 holds for the season (16th in MLB). The Pirates relievers have accumulated a save rate of 69.4% and stepped onto the hill in 145 save situations. They have recorded 43 saves over the course of the season and have blown 19 of 62 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 218 runners for the season with 32.6% of them crossed home plate. The Pirates have dispatched 481 relief pitchers to the hill on the year.

The Pirates have converted 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 11,922 innings on the field, which ranks them 19th in the majors. The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,974 putouts over the course of the season, as well as 1,277 assists and 85 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .984 which is 22nd in pro baseball, and have earned 123 double plays.

Priester has taken the ball for 32 innings and has earned 27 strikeouts during his pro baseball career. His ERA is 9.09 (33 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.837. He has conceded 41 base knocks (11.3 hits per 9 innings) and has 19 free passes. Priester (3-2 career win-loss record) holds a FIP of 7.02 while he has gone up against 157 hitters in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs have compiled an on-base percentage of .328 and a team batting average of .254 so far this season. They have struck out on 1,294 occasions (16th in the league) and have accounted for 1,292 hits. Chicago has a total of 178 home runs over the course of the season to go along with 718 runs batted in. The Cubs have a team slugging % of .417 and they average 4.99 runs per game (7th in the league). They have put up 245 doubles, while getting a free base 521 times as well as putting up 749 runs.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.272 in addition to having a FIP of 4.15 as a team on the year. They are currently ranked 10th in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,229. The Chicago pitching staff have given up 663 runs on the year while having an ERA of 4.05 (599 earned runs conceded). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.50 (1,257 strikeouts against 463 free passes). They have surrendered 164 home runs and they give up 4.49 runs per 9 innings (14th in the league).

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the contest in 50 save opportunities and they have tallied 32 saves. They rank 13th in the league with a save percentage of 64.0%, and they have sent 465 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond this year. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 136 times in high leverage situations in addition to 125 occasions with runners on. Chicago relievers have an inherited score rate of 28.3% out of their 205 inherited runners. With 127 save situations, the Cubs have 76 holds and 18 blown saves.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 127 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (18th in professional baseball). The Cubs have racked up 1,380 assists, 83 errors and have 3,990 putouts so far this year. In their 11,970 innings on the diamond, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 69.6% (12th in pro baseball).

So far in his career, Steele has given up 314 base knocks and he has 349 K's in 341 frames. Steele (24-15 win-loss record in his career) has earned a 3.14 earned run average while giving up 8.3 hits per nine innings. He has allowed 119 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.249 and a FIP of 3.5. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.12 and he has faced 1,437 opposing batters during his career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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