Pirates vs. Cubs Monday Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates are as hot as any team in the National League right now but will the cold weather in Chicago cool them down on Monday afternoon? The Bucs will visit the Cubs in the division rivals’ series opener at Wrigley Field.
Game Snapshot & Odds
951 Pittsburgh Pirates (+145) at 952 Chicago Cubs (-166)
Monday, April 9, 2018
2:20 p.m. ET, Wrigley Field
TV: ATTP (PIT); ABC 7 (CHC)
(Odds courtesy of online sportsbooks YouWager)
Public Betting Trends
As of this writing, 59% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Cubs to beat the Pirates on the moneyline. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Pittsburgh Pirates send struggling Nova to the mound
The Bucs are hot but they’ll send a struggling Ivan Nova to the hill in Chicago on Monday afternoon. Nova hasn’t been able to put it together yet this season, failing to post a quality start in either of his two outings in 2018. He allowed five runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a loss last Wednesday to the Twins. Of the five hits Nova allowed, four went for extra bases, including a home run by Brian Dozier.
At least the Pirates are hot. Who would have thought a week into the season that Pittsburgh would sit atop the National League Central standings at 7-2? Their latest win came courtesy of Jameson Taillon, who dominated the struggling Cincinnati Reds on Sunday while allowing just one hit and picking up the first shutout of his career in a 5-0 Bucs’ victory.
Cubs Starting to Get Hot After Successful Trip to Milwaukee
The Cubs enter Monday’s home opener having won three of their past four games. While they posted only a trio of runs in their 3-0 win over the Brewers on Sunday, the Cubs produced 20 runs in their four-game series against Milwaukee. Much of that scoring came without All-Star first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who has been out of the Cubs’ lineup with a back injury. Rizzo missed three straight games but told reporters on Sunday that he wants to play in the Cubs’ Wrigley Field debut on Monday.
Meanwhile, Tyler Chatwood will make his second start of the season and his Wrigley Field debut for the Cubs on Monday. He allowed just one earned run, four hits and six walks in six innings in his first start against Cincinnati. He struck out four and has held Pittsburgh, posting a 1.50 ERA in two career starts versus the Buccos.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Pirates are just 1-7 in Nova’s last eight starts and are 5-16 in his last 21 road outings.
Chicago
The Cubs are 10-4 in their last 14 home games dating back to last season and are 13-5 in their last 18 divisional matchups.
Prediction:
It would appear as though Nova’s second-half struggles from 2017 have carried over to 2018. He posted a 5.83 ERA and a .383 wOBA against in the second half last year and really struggled on the road (5.02 ERA). He also struggles with the long ball, which is problematic when pitching at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are expensive on the moneyline but I nevertheless like their odds of beating the Pirates on Monday.