The Chicago Cubs (21-14) go for two in a row against the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-23) Wednesday at PNC Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET between the NL Central rivals. We analyze the Cubs-Pirates betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Cubs at Pirates: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. RHP Joe Musgrove
Hendricks: 3-4, 4.09 ERA, 1.091 WHIP, 34 K, 4 BB, 44 IP, 7 starts
- Leads MLB with a mere 0.8 BB/9 but his 7.0 K/9 is his lowest since his debut 2014 season. He’s also allowing a career-worst 1.2 HR/9 with six homers allowed over 44 innings.
- He has rapidly regressed since starting the 60-game season with a nine-inning shutout of the Milwaukee Brewers. He has allowed 11 earned runs over 17 2/3 innings across his last three starts while taking the loss in each one.
Musgrove: 0-3, 6.75 ERA, 1.773 WHIP, 17 K, 11 BB, 11 ER, 14 2/3 IP, 3 starts
- Returns from the injured list for his first start since Aug. 4 when he allowed 5 earned runs over just 3 1/3 innings in a road loss against the Minnesota Twins.
- Has allowed 4 home runs in just the 14 2/3 innings on the season, while walking 6.8 batters per nine against 10.4 strikeouts per nine.
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Cubs at Pirates: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Pirates
- RP Keone Kela (forearm) out
- OF Bryan Reynolds (paternity) out
Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball
Cubs at Pirates: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:29 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Cubs 7, Pirates 4
Moneyline (ML)
Stick with the CUBS (-189) following their 8-7 win in 11 innings in Tuesday’s series opener. The teams entered extras at 6-6, exchanged runs in the 10th inning and the Cubs scored the winner when CF Ian Happ drove in 2B Nico Hoerner.
The edge in the starting pitching matchup Wednesday goes to Hendricks, as he looks to bust out of a skid. The Cubs rank seventh in baseball with a team OPS of .789 against right-handed pitching as the stronger half of their offensive split. The time off should help Musgrove in the long run, but bettors will need to see some improvement before trusting him out of the gate.
The Pirates (+170) have lost two in a row and four of their last five.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
Get better value on the visitors by taking the CUBS -1.5 (-129) to win by 2 or more runs. They were in position to do so Tuesday before giving up runs in the sixth and eighth innings. Both teams used six relievers apiece in the series opener, so they’re at an equal disadvantage there.
Over/Under (O/U)
OVER 9.5 (-110) is the top recommendation with two struggling starters and poor bullpens waiting in the wings. I expect a better outing from Hendricks and it’ll be the Cubs doing the bulk of the work against the previously struggling Musgrove.
Esten’s MLB betting record: 32-36
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