Brandon Brown
The Chicago Cubs face the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a four-game series at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday. Pittsburgh picked up a 5-4 victory in Thursday night’s opener. The Pirates (20-25), third in the National League Central, have lost six of their last nine games, although they have suffered a two-game skid. The Cubs (25-20), second in the division, are 3-5 in their last eight games.
First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 pm ET. Pittsburgh is a -112 moneyline favorite (risk $112 to win $100) in the latest Pirates vs. Pittsburgh odds. SportsLine consensus Cubs, while the total number of runs Vegas believes will be scored, or over/under, is 8. Before making any Pirates vs. Cubs, make sure See MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.
The SportsLine projection model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. He entered Week 7 of the 2024 MLB season on a profitable 115-91 run in top rankings MLB Picks which dates back to last season, and has stood out among the top-rated rushing line picks during that span, going 20-8 (+708). Anyone who follows has seen great returns.
Now the model is watching Puppies vs. Pirates and just locked down his MLB picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model picks. Here are several MLB Odds and betting lines for Pirates vs. Cubs:
- Pirates vs. Pirates Money Line Cubs: Pittsburgh -112, Chicago -107
- Pirates vs. Cubs over/under: 8 runs
- Pirates vs. Pirates Racing Line Cubs: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+144)
- PIT: The Pirates have reached team totals under 22 of the last 29 games (+14.80 units)
- CHC: The Cubs have reached the money line in 13 of their last 19 home games (+7.20 units)
- Pirates vs. Pirates Picks Cubs: See the picks at SportsLine
Why you should support the Cubs
Chicago is expected to send right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 10.04 ERA) to the mound. He will make his seventh start of the season and second in a row against the Pirates. Despite his early season struggles, he pitched well in his final game in Pittsburgh. He received a no decision in the Cubs’ 5-4 victory. In five innings, he allowed just two hits, one earned run and four walks with five strikeouts. In 30 career starts against the Pirates, he is 9-13 with a 3.54 ERA.
Center fielder Cody Bellinger has been on a tear lately, hitting in eight of his last 10 games, including a 4-for-5 performance with two doubles, a home run and an RBI in a 7-2 win at Pittsburgh on May 10. He went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk in Wednesday’s 7-1 win at Atlanta. In Thursday’s loss to the Pirates, he doubled in a run. In 31 games this season, he is batting .262 with five doubles, one triple, seven homers and 22 RBI. See which team to choose here.
Why you should support the Pirates
Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes (0-0, 6.75 ERA), the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, will start for Pittsburgh. This will be his second start at the MLB level. In his rookie debut Saturday, he allowed six hits, three runs — all earned — with two walks and seven strikeouts in four innings of work in the Pirates’ 10-9 victory over the Cubs. In seven minor league appearances with Indianapolis earlier this year, he was 0-0 with a 0.99 ERA. In 27.1 innings, he allowed 17 hits, four runs – three earned – with eight walks and 45 strikeouts.
Right fielder Connor Joe has been a spark plug for the Pirates. In 38 games this season, he is batting .285 with six home runs, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored. He went 1-for-4 on Thursday against the Cubs and has a double, two homers and five RBI against them this season in three games. In 25 career games against Chicago, he is batting .379 with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs and 17 RBI. See which team to choose here.
How to make Pirates vs. Pirates picks Cubs
SportsLine’s model leans toward the total, projecting 10.1 combined runs. It also says that one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get MLB model picks and analysis from SportsLine.
So who wins Cubs vs. Cubs? Pirates and which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that goes from 115 to 91 on MLB’s top-rated picksand find out.
