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The Chicago Cubs (66-66) and Pittsburgh Pirates (62-69) meet Tuesday for the middle game of a 3-game series. First pitch from PNC Park is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Tied 4-4
Chicago beat Pittsburgh 18-8 Monday while covering as a -100 road favorite. The Cubs had an 8-run 6th inning and a 6-run 9th inning and had 8 stolen bases – their most in a game since 1913. The Cubs had 2 players finish with 4 RBIs in the win, including SS Dansby Swanson, who hit a grand slam.
RHP Mitch Keller was the losing pitcher for Pittsburgh (4 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 4 ).
Cubs at Pirates projected starters
LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Jared Jones
Steele (4-5, 3.07 ERA) makes his 22nd start. He has a 1.07 WHIP, 2.3 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 in 123 IP.
- Last start: Win, 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K in a 10-2 outing vs. Detroit Thursday
- Career vs. Pittsburgh: 1-3, 6.44 ERA (36 1/3 IP, 26 ER), 1.43 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 in 8 appearances (7 starts)
Jones (5-6, 3.56 ERA) makes his 17th start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9 and 9.7 K/9 in 91 IP.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 5 K in a 5-4 win over St. Louis on July 3
- Career vs. Cubs: 1-1, 3.75 ERA (12 IP, 5 ER), 14 H, 2 BB, 11 K in 2 starts
- First game back from a lat strain
Who’s going yard? Here’s a breakdown of today’s best home run props with our top picks. Include the BetMGM bonus code SBWIRE to score a $1,500 first-bet offer.
Cubs at Pirates odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:11 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs -145 (bet $145 to win $100) | Pirates +120 (bet $100 to win $120)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs -1.5 (+115) | Pirates +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Cubs at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 5, Pirates 4
Moneyline
BET CUBS (-145).
Chicago enters as the hotter team, being 7-3 in its last 10 overall and 3-1 in its last 4 on the road while the Pirates are 5-5 in their last 10 overall and 1-2 in their last 3 at home.
The Cubs are also 3-1 in their last 4 matchups vs. the Pirates in Pittsburgh, also being 2-1 in the last 3 meetings overall.
Run line/Against the spread
BET PIRATES +1.5 (-140).
Pittsburgh has come within 1-run of the Cubs in 2 of Chicago’s last 3 wins over the Pirates. Pittsburgh is also the slightly hotter team in the last 10 matchups between these squads as the Pirates are 6-4 across that span vs. the Cubs.
The Pirates have also been the much better team ATS this season, being 73-58 while Chicago is only 63-69 ATS on the year.
Over/Under
BET OVER 8 (-105).
The Over has hit in 3 of Chicago’s 4 games during this current road trip and is 5-0-1 in its last 6 games overall. For Pittsburgh, the Over is 3-1 in its last 4 games.
The Over has also hit in 3 of the last 4 Chicago-Pittsburgh meetings in Pittsburgh, being 7-2-1 in the last 10 meetings overall.
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