Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Pick 09/26/19

Starling Marte and the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to host their NL Central foe Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. The matchup will get underway at 7:05 p.m. ET and fans can tune in to NBC Sports Chicago to catch the game.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Odds

The Cubs are 82-76 SU and are 74-83 against the spread (ATS). They’ve lost 11.1 units for bettors taking the moneyline and 8.8 units ATS. Chicago has covered the spread just once over its last seven games and the total has gone under in four of those seven. The Pirates, on the other hand, are 67-91 SU and 75-82 ATS. The team’s lost 14.6 units for moneyline bettors and 23.8 units ATS. Pittsburgh has covered the spread only twice over its last seven games and the total has gone over in four of those seven.

Pirates games have an over/under record of 90-59-8 in 2019. Chicago has an over/under record of 72-74-11.

The southpaw Jose Quintana will get the nod for the visiting Cubbies. Quintana is 13-8 with a 4.55 ERA and 148 strikeouts. He’s 4-0 with 29 strikeouts and a 3.38 ERA against Pittsburgh this year (five starts).

The Pirates will turn to righty Joe Musgrove (10-12, 4.49 ERA), who’s got 149 strikeouts and 37 walks as well as a WHIP of 1.23. Musgrove is 0-1 with 19 strikeouts and a 1.08 ERA across three starts against Chicago this year.

Pittsburgh’s pitchers have yielded 5.7 runs per game overall this season as a unit. Its starters have a 5.44 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 8.3 strikeouts per nine innings. The bullpen has a 4.97 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 9.9 K/9. In 72 games against divisional opponents, Pirates starters have an ERA of 5.71 and the bullpen’s ERA is 5.37.

Pittsburgh’s hitters are putting up 4.7 runs per outing, including 4.6 per game against divisional foes and 3.6 per game over their last five. The team’s hit .211/.243/.295 over its last five contests and is 2-3 SU during that stretch.

The Pirates’ batters have been led by outfielders Starling Marte and Bryan Reynolds. Marte is slashing .295/.342/.503 with 23 home runs, 82 RBIs, 97 runs and 25 steals, while Reynolds is hitting .314 with 16 homers, 68 RBIs and 83 runs scored.

For the visiting squad, Chicago’s pitchers have allowed 4.4 runs per game and its starting pitchers own a 4.12 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 8.92 K/9. The bullpen has managed an ERA of 3.93, along with a WHIP of 1.30 and a K/9 of 9.07.

The Cubs offense has slashed .252/.334/.453 on its way to 5.0 runs scored per game this season, including 5.0 runs per game against divisional foes and 3.0 per game over the team’s last five outings (0-5 SU).

Third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo continue to lead Chicago’s hitters. Bryant is slashing .282/.382/.521 with 31 home runs, 77 RBIs and 108 runs scored. Rizzo (.293/.405/.520) has produced 27 homers, 94 RBIs and 89 runs scored.

The Cubs have lost 3.6 units and are 61-64 ATS when facing a righty starter this season. The over has cashed in 59 of those games, compared to 57 that’ve gone under in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have lost 10.4 units and are 17-24 ATS when facing a lefty starter. The over has hit in 28 of those games, compared to 12 that went under the total.

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Tip

Predictions: SU Winner – Pirates, ATS Winner – Cubs, O/U – OVER