Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Picks & Predictions
This weekend, the Chicago Cubs will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a crucial NL Central Division matchup. The Cubs are currently in a tight race for the top spot
Game outlook
This weekend, the Chicago Cubs will face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a crucial NL Central Division matchup. The Cubs are currently in a tight race for the top spot in the division with a 89-73 record, while the Pirates are looking to bounce back after a recent slide to 17-21. The pitching matchup on Friday night will see Cubs veteran Jameson Taillon take on Pirates rookie Jared Jones. The game is set to start at 6:40 PM EST, with Pittsburgh listed as the betting favorite at -130.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Cubs +112 | Pirates -130
Spread: Cubs +1.25 (-167) | Pirates -1.25 (+135)
Total: Over/Under 7.5 (-110)
Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Pittsburgh will win straight-up is 57%.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are currently in a tight battle for the top spot in the NL Central Division with the Milwaukee Brewers. They have been successful so far due to strong starting pitching and power at the plate. The team recently lost two out of three games against the San Diego Padres, with a tough shutout loss on Wednesday. Despite the setback, manager Craig Counsell praised pitcher Hayden Wisneski's performance. The Cubs will rely on Jameson Taillon in their upcoming series opener in Pittsburgh. Taillon has been a reliable pitcher with two quality starts and an impressive record of 3-0 this season. Injuries to key players like Seiya Suzuki and Jordan Wicks will pose a challenge for the team moving forward. With their current power ranking of 14, the Cubs are ranked 11 in offense, 13 in defense, and have a record of 89-73 this season. To stay updated on MLB action, readers can check out Free MLB Picks for insights and predictions.