Pittsburgh Pirates vs
Chicago CubsPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs Look to Even Series with Pittsburgh Pirates After Upset Loss, Aim to Bounce Back at Wrigley Field

The Chicago Cubs (68-53) will look to bounce back and even the series with the Pittsburgh Pirates (52-71) on Saturday at Wrigley Field after falling 3-2 in the series opener. The Pirates secured an upset victory on the road and will aim to build on their success in the upcoming matchup.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Pirates +193 | Cubs -215
• Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-115) | Cubs -1.5 (-104)
• Total: Over/Under 9.5 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 68%.

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are struggling to find consistency this season, especially in their offense. They currently rank last in MLB in runs per game, OPS, and home runs, with a team batting average of just .232. Despite their strong stolen base numbers, they have trouble creating sustained rallies. Their road record of 18-42 is particularly troublesome, as they often fall behind early and struggle to recover. While their pitching staff has been decent, the lack of offensive support has wasted some solid outings. However, there have been some bright spots, such as Jack Suwinski's walk-off homer to end a five-game losing streak.

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs have had a successful season at Wrigley Field, boasting a record of 36-23. Despite a recent loss, their offense has been strong, ranking among the top teams in runs per game, home runs, and stolen bases. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki lead the team with 27 home runs each, while Michael Busch has contributed 24. Shota Imanaga will start Saturday's game with an impressive 8-5 record, 3.19 ERA, and 0.97 WHIP. He has been consistent both at home and away, with a 3-1 record and 3.32 ERA at Wrigley Field this season. In a previous matchup against the Pirates, Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings to lead the Cubs to a 9-0 victory.

Imanaga's Dominance Puts Chicago Cubs in Strong Position Against Struggling Pirates

The Chicago Cubs possess a significant advantage in talent and pitching with Imanaga on the mound against Burrows of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates are currently on a five-game losing streak, with four of those losses being by a significant margin. Chicago's lineup, particularly their middle-of-the-order hitters, is expected to generate enough offense to cover the spread, especially considering the Pirates' lack of bullpen depth. Despite a potential early challenge from Pittsburgh, their struggles to score late in games make a decisive victory for the Cubs highly probable. Betting on the run line could offer bettors a more lucrative payout when wagering on the Cubs as the heavy favorites in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]