Last Updated on September 5, 2017 5:15 pm by dpatrick
Cubs vs. Pirates Pick
Will the Chicago Cubs bounce back Tuesday night in game two of their series at the Pittsburgh Pirates? First pitch is at 7:05PM EST.
The Cubs are set as a -200 favorite to win on the moneyline according to sports book Bovada.lv. The Pirates are a -170 underdog, while the over-under is set at 8.5.
Pitching for Chicago will be Kyle Hendricks (6-4, 3.32 ERA), while Pittsburgh counters with Steven Brault (0-0, 5.93). Hendricks has a 1.24 WHIP with 94 strikeouts over 108 1/3 innings. He has not given up more than three earned runs in his last eight starts and the Cubs have won his last three. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits with five strikeouts and three walks over 6 2/3 innings his last start, a 6-2 home win over the Braves. The left-handed Brault is making his first start of the season after six relief appearances, the last two coming against Chicago. In those two outings, Brault surrendered a combined seven runs (four earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts and a walk over three innings. He has a 1.90 WHIP with nine strikeouts over 13 2/3 innings.
Chicago is 75-62 overall and 35-33 on the road, while Pittsburgh is 66-72 and 38-32 at home. The Cubs have won six of the last 10 meetings and the total has gone under six times.
The Piirates won the series opener by a count of 12-0 as Chad Kuhl threw seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts. Max Moroff led the way as he was 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and four RBIs. Josh Bell went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs. Starling Marte finished 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs. Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Jordan Luplow was 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run. Elias Diaz ended the night 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI. Jake Arrieta took the loss as he surrendered three earned runs over 2 1/3 innings before departing with a hamstring injury. Kris Bryant paced the Cubs with two doubles, while Ben Zobrist added a single and a double.
The Cubs were shelled before and after Arrieta left Monday’s game. While the Pirates won’t have that kind of explosion again this should be a closer game. But with Chicago having seen Brault twice recently and hitting him hard, it’s hard to envision the Pirates pulling off another upset. Hendricks has also been pitching very well, making matters even more difficult for the hosts.
MLB DAILY PREDICTION: CHICAGO CUBS -200