The Chicago Cubs (22-14) look to cap off a three-game sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates (10-24) in a Thursday afternoon tilt getting underway at 1:35 p.m. ET at PNC Park. We analyze the Cubs-Pirates betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Cubs at Pirates: Projected starting pitchers
RHP Alec Mills vs. RHP JT Brubaker
Mills has posted a 5.23 ERA in six starts. The 28-year-old owns a 4.30 ERA over a dozen career starts and 13 relief appearances.
- Gets a lot of ground balls (51% GB) but has coughed up a high rate of fly balls ending up as home runs (23.3%).
Brubaker has been in the Pittsburgh starting rotation since Aug. 6, and he’s gained a moderate amount of traction over his last couple starts. The 26-year-old has an ERA of 4.50 on a WHIP of 1.40.
- Had elbow and shoulder problems in 2019 which cut his Class Triple-A innings to just 21 in 2019. Figures as a short-leash starter for the Pirates and has averaged just under four innings per start.
- Tossed three scoreless relief innings against the Cubs Aug. 1.
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Cubs at Pirates: Key injuries
Get the latest injury news here.
Pirates
- RP Keone Kela (forearm) 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 8:30 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML)
The Cubs’ record is overextended versus underlying production, but the Pirates — losers of 5 five of their last 6 — are a woeful baseball club. Chicago is seeking its sixth straight win against the Pirates. The Cubs’ .804 road OPS ranks third in MLB, and right-handers swing them around to their best platoon splits (.828 OPS vs. RHP). Chicago also has the much better bullpen despite the appearance of a shaky 5.18 ERA.
The price here is workable. Back the CUBS (-154).
New to sports betting? A winning $50 moneyline wager on Chicago returns a profit of $32.47.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
This one likely draws a lay-off, but some movement up on the price for Pittsburgh might make for middling a one-run Chicago win on what figures to be a total shaded on the Under side. Avoid the current price — PIRATES +1.5 (-115) — but something closer to -109/-110 could be worth pulling the trigger.
Matched with the above moneyline play, a Chicago win by one run nets wins on both accounts.
Over/Under (O/U)
Peg what could be an affair started and stopped by rain on get-away day as a 7-to-9-run game environment. Take the UNDER 9.5 (-110).
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