Pirates vs. Cubs Prediction
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs will play their rubber match on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Following two high-scoring games, will the under hit when Trevor Williams takes on Kyle Hendricks in the pitching matchup?
Game Snapshot & Odds
901 Pittsburgh Pirates at 902 Chicago Cubs
Thursday, April 12, 2018
2:20 p.m. ET, Wrigley Field
TV: ATTP (PIT); CHC (CSNC)
Public Betting Trends
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook YouWager currently list the Cubs as a -176 favorite. As of this writing, 52% of the betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Pirates to beat the Cubs on the money line. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our MLB Public Betting Page for updated figures on this game.
Trevor Williams has been excellent in early going
The Pirates will call upon Williams to help them earn a series victory at Wrigley Field on Thursday. He gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings in last Friday’s 14-3 victory over the Reds. He struck out four in the blowout victory and despite allowing 10 hits, he walked just one batter as he was able to limit the damage. Williams will take a 1.59 ERA into Thursday’s start and will attempt to improve to 3-0 on the young season.
Hendricks coming off a no-decision versus the Brewers
Kyle Hendricks allowed four runs over five innings last Friday in a no-decision against the Brewers. The fifth inning was rough on Hendricks, who gave up a two-run home run to Eric Thames and another two-run shot to Travis Shaw. He struck out just one batter in the loss and generated only five swinging strikes in his 84 pitches.
MLB Betting Trends
Pittsburgh
The Pirates have lost four of Williams’ last five road starts and are 3-8 in his last 11 outings versus the rest of the National League Central.
Chicago
The Cubs have won six of Hendricks’ last eight starts versus the Pirates.
Prediction:
Despite the first two games in their series sailing over the total, I like the under to cash on Thursday. In Williams’ last five road starts, the under is a perfect 5-0. The under is also 15-4 in his last 19 outings overall, is 8-2 in his last 10 starts versus National League Central opponents, and is 6-0 in his last six outings when pitching the third game of a series.
On the other side, the under is 8-2 in Hendricks’ last 10 starts, is 25-7-1 in his last 33 outings versus a team with a winning record, and is 21-6-1 in his last 28 home outings versus a team with a winning record.
The Pick: Pirates/Cubs under