Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/21/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, September 21, 2023

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+130) Chicago (-155)

The Chicago Cubs (79-72) will try to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (70-81) at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The odds on this game have the Pirates at +130 while the Cubs are priced at -155. The total is set at 8. The starting pitchers are Johan Oviedo and Kyle Hendricks.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are knocking in 4.2 runs/g, which has them sitting at 25th in baseball. They have notched a total of 629 runs and hold an OBP of .312. The Pirates have compiled 263 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 147 baseballs out of the park. They have earned 604 runs batted in in addition to 1,183 base knocks for the year, while their average at the plate is .236. Pittsburgh has a slugging percentage of .388 and have struck out 1,343 times, while taking a walk on 514 occasions.

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The Pirates hold a team earned run average of 4.56 for the year (21st in MLB), and the staff has struck out 1,265 batters. Pirates pitchers have conceded 164 home runs and 733 runs (22nd in the league). They have walked 555 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.38 as a unit so far this year. Pittsburgh has allowed 1,284 hits (8.7 per 9 innings) and 675 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.28 and their pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.38.

The Pirates bullpen have a save percentage of 69.4% and stepped onto the hill in 145 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 220 runners for the season and 33.2% of those runners crossed the plate. Pirates relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 147 times in addition to having 154 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have dispatched 484 relievers to the mound so far this season. The bullpen have recorded 80 holds this year (16th in the league). They have recorded 43 saves on the year and have blown 19 of their 62 chances to save the game.

The Pirates have turned 68.6% of balls hit into play into outs in their 11,994 innings on the field, which has them ranked 19th in the majors. The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,998 putouts over the course of the season, in addition to 1,287 assists and 85 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .984 which ranks 20th in professional baseball, and they have turned 123 double plays.

Oviedo (12-25 win-loss record in his career) sits with a FIP of 4.52 and he has faced 1,371 batters during his time in the major leagues. He has surrendered 284 hits (8.3 hits per nine innings) and has 146 walks. His earned run average is 4.30 (148 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.389. Oviedo has pitched in 309 innings and has accumulated 268 K's so far in his pro baseball career.

The Chicago Cubs are sitting with an OBP of .329 as well as a team batting average of .254 this season. They have struck out on 1,297 instances (16th in the league) and have earned a total of 1,304 base hits. Chicago has a total of 182 HRs for the season and 732 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a slugging % of .420 and they score 5.05 runs per game (7th in the league). They have tallied 248 doubles, while taking a walk 527 times as well as putting up 763 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have conceded 664 runs so far this year and come in with a team ERA of 4.03 (600 earned runs yielded). They have allowed 165 homers and they yield 4.46 runs per 9 innings (13th in the league). The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.270 in addition to having a FIP of 4.14 as a team on the year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,273 strikeouts vs 466 bases on balls). They rank 10th in MLB as a staff in total hits given up with 1,234.

Chicago relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 28.3% out of their 205 inherited base runners. Their relievers have taken the field 136 times in high leverage situations in addition to 125 occasions with runners on base. Sitting with 127 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 76 holds and also 18 blown saves. They are currently ranked 13th in MLB with a save percentage of 64.0%, and they have sent 469 relief pitchers onto the diamond for the year. Chicago has had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 50 save opportunities and they have earned 32 saves.

In 12,051 innings on the diamond, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 69.6% (12th in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have turned 128 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .985 (18th in MLB). The Cubs have recorded 1,389 assists, 83 errors and have a tally of 4,017 putouts for the season.

So far in his career, Hendricks has allowed 1,342 base hits while he has accumulated 1,165 K's in 1,439 innings. Hendricks (93-68 win-loss mark in his career) has earned a 3.48 earned run average while conceding 8.4 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed a total of 557 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.152 and a FIP of 3.8. His K/BB ratio is 3.69 and he has gone up against 5,902 hitters during his MLB career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+130)

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