Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 8/26/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Monday, August 26, 2024

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates (60-67) will try to defeat the Chicago Cubs (63-65) at PNC Park on Monday. The pitchers who are expected to start will be Jameson Taillon and Mitch Keller.

Chicago is slugging .384 and have been rung up 1,095 times, while drawing a walk on 415 occasions. They have compiled 507 runs batted in as well as 997 base knocks on the season, while their batting average comes in at .234. The Cubs have tallied 196 doubles as a squad and have knocked 132 baseballs out of the stadium. They have a total of 537 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .309. As a team, the Chicago Cubs are recording 4.2 runs per outing, which has them sitting at 19th in baseball.

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The Cubs are sitting with a team ERA of 3.71 over the course of the season (5th in baseball), and they have struck out 1,099 batters. Cubs pitchers have conceded 137 home runs in addition to 529 runs (9th in the league). They have walked 373 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.90 as a unit so far this year. Chicago has given up 1,018 base hits (8.1 per 9 innings) and also 466 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 2.95 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.23.

The Cubs have sent 388 relief pitchers to the hill this season. The relievers have inherited 165 runners for the season and 30.3% of those runners crossed home plate. They have compiled 28 saves for the year and have blown 22 of their 50 chances to get a save. The Cubs relievers have a save rate of 56.0% and has entered the game in 113 save situations. The bullpen have notched 62 holds so far this season (19th in baseball). Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with players on base 113 times as well as having 135 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs are sitting with 3,390 putouts so far this season, in addition to 1,021 assists and 63 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .986 which has them sitting 12th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 67 double plays. The Cubs have transformed 70.3% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 10,170 innings, ranking them 12th in pro baseball.

Taillon (67-53 career win-loss record) is the owner of a FIP of 3.92 while facing 4,459 opposing batters in the majors. He has allowed 1,044 base knocks (8.8 hits per 9 innings) and has had 260 walks. His ERA is 3.98 (472 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.222. Taillon has taken the mound for 1,068 frames and has racked up 951 strikeouts in his career.

Pittsburgh has knocked in 125 home runs this year and 506 RBIs. They have 184 two-baggers, while taking a walk 380 times as well as putting up 525 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting with an OBP of .301 as well as a team batting average of .234 on the season. The Pirates hold a slugging % of .371 and they average 4.13 runs per contest (23rd in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 1,193 instances (4th in the league) and have tallied 1,009 hits.

The Pirates are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.275 in addition to having a FIP of 4.00 as a staff on the year. They are sitting at 21st in baseball as a staff in total hits conceded with 1,061. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have relinquished 547 runs for the season while having a team ERA of 3.90 (490 earned runs conceded). Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.40 (1,060 strikeouts against 382 walks). They have allowed 132 homers and they concede 4.35 runs per 9 innings (15th in MLB).

Sitting with 115 save situations, the Pirates have amassed 60 holds in addition to 24 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 54 save opportunities and they have tallied 30 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the mound 139 times in high leverage situations and on 99 occasions with runners on. Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 32.2% of 143 inherited base runners. They are ranked 27th in the league with a save rate of 55.6%, and they have dispatched 385 relievers to the hill for the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten 108 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .985 (17th in baseball). The Pirates have 1,088 assists, 67 errors and have amassed 3,398 putouts so far this year. In 10,194 innings on the diamond, the Pirates hold a defensive efficiency of 69.3% (21st in baseball).

So far in his MLB career, Keller has conceded 701 hits while totaling 655 K's in 671 innings. Keller (36-45 career win-loss record) has a 4.50 earned run average while giving up 9.4 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 336 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.399 and having a FIP of 4.4. His K/BB ratio is 2.75 and he has gone up against 2,925 hitters in his pro baseball career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago

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