Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/3/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Tuesday, September 3, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (71-66) will attempt to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (63-73) on Tuesday. The expected starting pitchers will be Paul Skenes and Justin Steele.

The Pirates have compiled 200 two-baggers as a squad and have smacked 134 balls out of the stadium. Pittsburgh has a slugging rate of .373 and have been rung up 1,270 times, while taking a walk on 405 occasions. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 4.2 runs/g, which has them at 21st in MLB. They have amassed 551 RBI's in addition to 1,092 base knocks on the season, while their team batting average is sitting at .236. They have accumulated 572 runs and hold an OBP of .302.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.69 and the pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.31. Pirates pitchers have surrendered 144 long balls and 622 total runs (20th in baseball). Pittsburgh has allowed 1,165 base knocks (8.7 per 9 innings) as well as 557 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team earned run average of 4.14 on the campaign (17th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 1,135 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 422 players from the other team and their FIP comes in at 4.07 as a squad on the campaign.

The Pirates have sent 418 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The relievers have inherited 166 runners on the campaign with 34.3% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have compiled 32 saves on the season and have blown 26 of their 58 save opportunities. The Pirates relievers have compiled a save rate of 55.2% and has stepped onto the mound in 124 save situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 65 holds for the season (23rd in baseball). Pirates pitchers have entered the game with runners on base 111 times in addition to having 148 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have 3,635 putouts on the year, as well as 1,161 assists and 73 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .985 which has them sitting 18th in pro baseball, and they have turned 117 double plays. The Pirates have converted 68.7% of balls in play into outs in their 10,905 innings on the diamond, ranking them 23rd in professional baseball.

Skenes has taken the ball for 109 innings and has accumulated 136 K's in his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 2.23 (27 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 0.954. He has given up 78 base hits (6.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 26 walks. Skenes (8-2 record in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 2.20 and he has faced 421 batters in the major leagues.

The Chicago Cubs have earned an OBP of .316 and a team batting average of .240 so far this year. They have been called out on strikes on 1,171 occasions (14th in the league) and have recorded 1,107 base hits. Chicago is sitting with 145 home runs this year and 591 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a team SLG% of .394 and they score 4.57 runs per game (13th in MLB). They have recorded 226 two-baggers, while getting a free base 461 times as well as scoring 626 runs.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.246 and have a FIP of 3.95 as a unit for the year. They come in at 13th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,103. The Chicago pitching staff have conceded 574 runs on the year and come in with a team ERA of 3.79 (510 earned runs allowed). Their K/BB ratio comes in at 8.70 (1,170 strikeouts vs 405 bases on balls). They have yielded 148 long balls and they yield 4.27 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league).

Chicago has called on relief pitchers to step onto the hill in 53 save opportunities and they have come away with 31 saves. They are ranked 25th in MLB holding a save percentage of 58.5%, and they have dispatched 417 relievers to the hill this season. Their relievers have taken the field 142 times in high leverage situations and on 122 occasions with runners on base. Chicago relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 30.1% out of their 183 inherited runners. Sitting with 120 save situations, the Cubs have 66 holds and also 22 blown saves.

In their 10,890 innings on the diamond, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency of 70.1% (15th in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have turned 72 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (7th in MLB). The Cubs have accrued 1,107 assists, 65 errors and have amassed 3,630 putouts so far this year.

Steele (29-21 career record) is the owner of a 3.24 earned run average and has allowed 8.2 hits per nine innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.35 and he has gone up against 2,003 hitters so far in his career. He has allowed 172 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.216 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.2. During his pro baseball career, Steele has allowed 433 base hits while tallying 492 punch outs in 477 innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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