Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/4/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Wrigley Field is the location where the Chicago Cubs (71-67) will compete against the Pittsburgh Pirates (64-73) on Wednesday. The starting pitchers will be Domingo German and Shota Imanaga.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are compiling 4.2 runs per game, which has them at 20th in the league. They have a total of 577 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .302. The Pirates have hit 200 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 136 balls out of the park. They have 556 runs batted in in addition to 1,100 base knocks over the course of the season, and their team batting average comes in at .236. Pittsburgh has a slugging rate of .373 and have struck out 1,275 times, while taking a walk on 407 occasions.

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The Pirates hold a team earned run average of 4.13 on the campaign (17th in the league), and they have struck out 1,141 batters. Pirates pitchers have yielded 145 long balls and also 625 runs (20th in baseball). They have walked 424 batters and their FIP comes in at 4.07 as a team so far this season. Pittsburgh has allowed 1,171 base knocks (8.6 per 9 innings) and also 560 earned runs. Their K/BB ratio is 2.69 and the pitching staff holds a WHIP of 1.31.

The Pirates have sent 421 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The relievers have inherited 167 runners for the year with 34.1% of those runners ended up scoring. They have tallied 33 saves so far this year and have missed out on 26 of their 59 save chances. The Pirates relievers have accumulated a save percentage of 55.9% and has come into the game in 126 save situations. The relief pitchers are sitting with 66 holds so far this season (22nd in the league). Pirates pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 112 times and also have had 150 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pirates have converted 68.7% of baseballs in play into outs out of 10,986 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 23rd in professional baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,662 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 1,175 assists and 73 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .985 which has them ranked 17th in the majors, and have accumulated 119 double plays.

German (31-28 career record) has a FIP of 4.41 while he has gone up against 2,265 hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has conceded 470 base hits (7.9 hits per 9 innings) and has 173 free passes. His earned run average is 4.48 (268 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.194. German has taken the hill for 539 innings and has racked up 558 punch outs in his pro baseball career.

The Cubs hold a team slugging percentage of .394 and they average 4.56 runs per game (13th in baseball). They have recorded 227 doubles, while taking a walk 463 times as well as scoring 629 runs. Chicago has accumulated 146 home runs on the campaign and 594 RBIs. They have been rung up on 1,177 occasions (14th in the league) and are sitting with 1,113 base hits. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with an on-base percentage of .316 as well as a team batting average of .240 over the course of the season.

The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.245 in addition to having a FIP of 3.96 as a staff this year. Their K/BB ratio is 8.70 (1,175 strikeouts vs 407 bases on balls). They are currently ranked 13th in baseball as a staff in total hits surrendered with 1,111. They have surrendered 150 dingers and they surrender 4.27 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 579 runs on the season while having an ERA of 3.80 (515 earned runs allowed).

Chicago has called on relievers to enter the contest in 54 save opportunities and they have converted 31 saves. They rank 25th in baseball holding a save percentage of 57.4%, and they have sent 419 bullpen pitchers to the mound this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 142 times in high leverage situations in addition to 122 occasions with runners on. Chicago bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 30.1% of 183 inherited base runners. With 121 save situations, the Cubs have earned 66 holds in addition to 23 blown saves.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 72 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .986 (8th in baseball). The Cubs have 1,121 assists, 67 errors and have 3,657 putouts on the season. In their 10,971 innings on the field, the Cubs hold a defensive efficiency of 70.2% (14th in professional baseball).

So far in his pro baseball career, Imanaga has allowed 131 hits and he has 148 punch outs in 146 frames. Imanaga (11-3 career mark) has a 3.14 ERA while surrendering 8.1 hits per 9 innings. He has allowed 51 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.054 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.1. His strikeout to walk ratio is 6.43 and he has faced 591 hitters thus far in his career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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