Pittsburgh Pirates vs
Chicago CubsPredictions & Preview

Chicago Cubs Favored Against Pittsburgh Pirates in Pitching Matchup

The Pittsburgh Pirates will be facing off against the Chicago Cubs in an upcoming game. The Pirates, currently struggling in fifth place in the NL Central with a 65-73 record, will have Domingo German on the mound. Meanwhile, the Cubs, fighting for a playoff spot and in second place in the NL Central with a 71-68 record, will be starting rookie pitcher Shota Imanaga. Chicago is the betting favorite in this match-up, opening at -200 and currently standing at Chicago -191.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Pirates +170 | Cubs -191
• Spread: Pirates +1.5 (-122) | Cubs -1.5 (+105)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Chicago will win straight-up is 66%.

Pittsburgh vs Chicago Stats

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates have struggled offensively this season, ranking 25th in the league with a .675 team OPS and averaging 4.22 runs per game. Shortstop Oneil Cruz has been a standout performer with 18 homers, 68 RBI, and a .786 OPS. Pitcher Domingo German has a 4.79 xERA and has had success with his curveball. The team has several players on the injury report, including Joey Bart, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and Marco Gonzales. Overall, the Pirates have a power ranking of 24 and are ranked 20 in offense, defense, and have a record of 65-73 this season.

Chicago Cubs Analysis

The Chicago Cubs have displayed average offensive performance this season, ranking tied for 15th in baseball with a .708 team OPS and scoring 4.53 runs per game. They also rank tied for sixth in stolen bases with 128 total steals. Shortstop Dansby Swanson has struggled at the plate with a .688 OPS, 13 homers, 55 RBI, 62 runs scored, and 15 stolen bases. On the pitching side, Shota Imanaga has excelled, boasting impressive statistics in various categories. The team has several players on the injury report, including pitchers Justin Steele, Julian Merryweather, Adbert Alzolay, and others. Despite their injuries, the Cubs have a power ranking of 3 and rank 13th for offense, 10th for defense, with an overall record of 71-68. In their recent matchups, Chicago went 1-2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Pitching Disparity Between Domingo German and Shota Imanaga Sets Stage for Chicago Cubs Victory

Since the All-Star break, there has been a notable difference in performance between starting pitchers Domingo German and Shota Imanaga. German has maintained a record of 0-0 with a 6.11 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP in 17.2 innings pitched, encompassing six games and one start. In contrast, Imanaga has achieved a record of 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA and a .212 batting average against in 49.1 innings over eight starts since the All-Star Game. The offensive outputs of both teams have also varied significantly in the previous 14 games, with Pittsburgh averaging 4.86 runs per game and Chicago scoring 7.64 runs per game. Based on these statistics, it is recommended to favor the Chicago Cubs for the win in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ]