Chicago Cubs vs
Pittsburgh PiratesPredictions & Preview

Pirates Look to Secure Series Win Against Cubs with Paul Skenes on the Mound

In the final game of the National League Central Division three-game series on Thursday, May 1, the Chicago Cubs will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The series is currently tied, with Thursday's winner taking the series. The Cubs lead the division with an 18-13 record, while the Pirates are in last place with a 12-19 record. Paul Skenes will start for the Pirates, while Colin Rea will take the mound for the Cubs. The game is set to begin at 12:35 P.M. EST. Pittsburgh is the betting favorite, with the current line at -151.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cubs +131 | Pirates -151
• Spread: Cubs +1.5 (-165) | Pirates -1.5 (+145)
• Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 60%.

Chicago vs Pittsburgh Stats

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs are currently leading the National League Central Division with an 18-13 overall record, two games ahead of the Brewers and the Reds. They have a 9-6 road record and have won four of their last seven games. Despite a recent loss to the Pirates, the Cubs showed strong offensive capabilities in their last game. Pitcher Colin Rea, with a 1-0 record and an ERA of 0.96, is set to start for the Cubs in their upcoming game. Chicago's offense has been performing well, hitting .263 and scoring the most runs in the league. The Cubs have a power ranking of 5, ranking 1st in offense with an average of 5.93 runs per game. Their defense, however, ranks 20th.

Pittsburgh Pirates Analysis

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently 12-19 overall this season and are in last place in the National League Central Division, six games back of the Cubs for the lead. They are also two games away from fourth place in the division. The Pirates have a 7-8 record when playing at home and have lost four of their last six games. In their recent victory over Chicago, Andrew McCutchen had a two-run double in the 7th inning to secure the win. Top player Paul Skenes will be starting the next game with a 3-2 record and an ERA of 2.39. The Pirates have an average of four runs per game when Skenes starts. Overall, the team is hitting .226 this season and has the third fewest homers in the MLB. Additionally, the Pirates have a power ranking of 19 and are ranked #25 for offense, #16 for defense, and have a 11-19 record overall. In their last three matchups against Chicago, the Pirates went 1-2.

Paul Skenes Continues to Shine as Pirates Take on Cubs

The current Cy Young Award winner and National League's Rookie of the Year, Paul Skenes, is set to pitch for the Pirates. Skenes has maintained a impressive 2.39 ERA this season and recently delivered a strong performance against the Dodgers. Building off of this momentum, Skenes is expected to excel in Thursday's game against the Cubs. Although the Cubs' starting pitcher, Colin Rea, has also performed well, the key for the Pirates will be to capitalize on any opportunities to challenge Chicago's bullpen. This is anticipated to be a closely contested match, with the Pirates favored to succeed. Choose the Pirates to cover in this matchup.

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