Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/17/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, May 17, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates (19-25) are traveling to Wrigley Field on Friday where they will take on the Chicago Cubs (25-19). The starting pitchers are Paul Skenes and Kyle Hendricks.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are knocking in 3.7 runs per contest, which ranks them 26th in MLB. They have 163 runs scored and have an on-base percentage of .302. The Pirates have accounted for 61 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 40 baseballs out of the park. They have accounted for 156 RBI's as well as 331 base knocks on the season, while their team batting average is .223. Pittsburgh has a slugging % of .349 and have been called out on strikes 409 times, while drawing a walk on 163 occasions.

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The Pirates have an earned run average of 4.05 this season (17th in baseball), and they have rung up 372 hitters. Pirates pitchers have allowed 52 home runs in addition to 197 runs (17th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 139 opposing hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.14 as a unit this year. Pittsburgh has conceded 363 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) and 176 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.68 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.28.

The Pirates relievers have a save rate of 54.5% and has entered the game in 44 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 66 base runners on the campaign with 37.9% of them ended up crossing the plate. Pirates bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with players on base 40 times as well as having 57 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have sent 136 relief pitchers to the mound for the season. The bullpen have 22 holds this year (21st in the league). They have compiled 12 saves on the campaign and have missed out on 10 out of their 22 chances to get a save.

The Pirates have converted 69.7% of balls hit into play into outs in their 3,522 innings on the diamond, ranking them 18th in MLB. The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned 1,174 putouts on the year, in addition to 377 assists and 27 errors. Their fielding rate is holding steady at .983 which has them sitting 22nd in baseball, and have 34 double plays.

Skenes has thrown 4 innings and has earned 7 punch outs in his career. Skenes (0-0 career record) has a FIP of 5.11 and he has faced 20 batters in the majors. His ERA is 6.75 (3 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 2.000. He has surrendered 6 hits (13.5 hits per nine innings) with 2 walks.

The Chicago Cubs have accumulated a team on-base percentage of .320 in addition to a team batting average of .237 on the campaign. They have been called out on strikes on 383 occasions (11th in the league) and have 346 base hits. Chicago has a total of 46 HRs on the season to go along with 188 RBIs. The Cubs hold a slugging % of .389 and they average 4.59 runs per contest (11th in baseball). They have 64 doubles, while taking a walk 164 times as well as putting up 202 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 187 runs on the year while holding an ERA of 3.69 (160 earned runs conceded). They have conceded 41 dingers and they yield 4.31 runs per 9 innings (14th in baseball). The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.294 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.81 as a unit so far this season. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 8.70 (376 strikeouts vs 147 free passes). They are sitting at 19th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 358.

With 45 save situations, the Cubs have tallied 23 holds and also 9 blown saves. Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 21 save chances and they have tallied 12 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 57 times in high leverage situations in addition to 46 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 34.8% out of their 66 inherited runners. They rank 21st in baseball with a save rate of 57.1%, and they have dispatched 140 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond this season.

In 3,516 innings played, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 69.4% (20th in baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 25 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .983 (24th in professional baseball). The Cubs have recorded 366 assists, 27 errors and have a total of 1,172 putouts this season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Hendricks has surrendered 1,393 base hits while he has tallied 1,193 strikeouts in 1,475 innings pitched. He has given up a total of 590 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.169 and having a FIP of 3.9. His K/BB ratio is 3.59 and he has faced 6,077 batters during his pro baseball career. Hendricks (93-72 career mark) holds a 3.60 earned run average while surrendering 8.5 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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