Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Free Pick and Betting Lines. The 86-56 Pittsburgh Pirates play host to the 82-60 Chicago Cubs tonight in MLB action on the grass of PNC Park, Sept 15, 2015. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05PM ET.
Betting Odds
Moneyline: Cubs +109/Pirates -119
Total Line: 7.5
Scheduled as the second game of a double header.
Pitching Matchup
Jon Lester (L) W/L 9-10 WHIP 1.18 ERA 3.50
J.A. Happ (L) W/L 5-1 WHIP 0.99 ERA 1.79 (NL numbers only)
Chicago had the day off yesterday. They are 4-3 on their road trip and 7-3 in their last 10 games. Pittsburgh also had Monday off. They are 3-1 on their homestand and also 7-3 in their past 10 games. The Pirates are 49-22 at home in 2015.
The Cubs have a 5-3 lead in the last 8 encounters in 2015 between these two NL Central foes.
Lester received a no decision in his last start, a 4-3 loss at St. Louis. He went 7 innings, allowed 1 ER and struck out 7 for his 18th Q start of the year.
Happ was a 5-4 winner at Cincinnati in his last outing. He lasted 6 innings, yielded 2 runs and fanned 10 for his 14th Q start of the season. He has won 5 straight games.
Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo is 4-6 (.667) against Happ with a HR and 2 RBIs while SS Starlin Castro is 4-9 (.444) with 2 RBIs. OF Chris Denorfia is 6-17 (.353) against the left-hander with 2 solo HRs while C David Ross is 3-9 (.333) with an RBI. Chicago is hitting .321 as a team vs. Happ.
Pirates C Chris Stewart is 3-7 (.429) against Lester with a HR and 2 RBIs while IF Josh Harrison is 2-4 (.500). SS Jung Ho Kang and OF Starling Marte are both 2-3 (.667) vs. the left-hander.
Chicago at Pittsburgh Betting Trends
Chicago is 2-3-1 straight up in their last 6 games overall.
The Cubs are 1-3-1 straight up in their last 5 games on the road in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is 5-1-1 straight up in their last 7 games overall.
The Pirates are 2-3-1 straight up in their last 6 games against the Cubs
Pittsburgh is 16-7-1 straight up in their last 24 home games against the Cubs.
Injury Report
CHICAGO CUBS
Jason Motte P 15-Day Disabled List
Jorge Soler OF 15-Day Disabled List
Jacob Turner P 60-Day Disabled List
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Brandon Cumpton P 60-Day Disabled List
Deolis Guerra P 60-Day Disabled List
Corey Hart 1B 60-Day Disabled List
Andrew Lambo OF 60-Day Disabled List
Casey Sadler P 60-Day Disabled List
Consensus Pick (Moneyline)
Chicago: 62%
Pittsburgh: 38%
Free MLB Pick
Jason Hammel has been barely adequate in his last five outings allowing 17 runs over 25 1/3 innings. He has pitched well against the Pirates at Wrigley but not on the road where he has given up seven runs in his last two starts at PNC Park in 10 innings. The Pirates have been hitting the ball well with scoring four or more runs in six straight winning five of the matches. Gerrit Cole has been a very good 8-3 at home with a 2.73 ERA recording a Q start in 76.9% of his 13 home starts. He lost his last start against the Cubs but pitched well giving up two runs in six innings in a 4-1 Pittsburgh loss. The Pirates won his six previous starts against Chicago and we’ll lay the big money and take the home side here.
Take Pittsburgh Pirates – 119 @ BETONLINE.AG
