Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates 6/21/2023 Predictions, Picks and Odds
On Wednesday at noon at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the three-game road series between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates in the MLB National League Central Division will close. The Chicago Cubs moved into third place in the NL Central after winning their last two away games, bringing their overall record up to 35-38 and their record on the road to 15-21. They are now 3.5 games behind the Cincinnati Reds in first place. After scoring 330 runs and giving up 309, the Cubs currently have a season run differential of +21. After winning eight of the previous ten games, including the first two games of a road series against the Pirates by scores of 8-0 and 4-0, respectively, the Chicago Cubs are attempting to sweep this series. Last night, starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (9-4) led the Cubs to a 4-0 victory away from home by allowing only five hits over seven shutout innings.
With a batting average of.282, 35 runs batted in, and 77 hits this season, Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner led the club. Third baseman Patrick Wisdom led the Cubs in that statistic with 14 home runs, and left fielder Lan Happ had the team’s best on-base percentage (.386). Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-2, 3.18 ERA) will start for the Chicago Cubs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday in the series finale. Hendricks gave up two earned runs during the final 13 innings of his previous two starts for the Cubs, both losses.
The totals were UNDER in 13 of the previous 20 games of the Chicago Cubs; but, the Cubs are 7-1 SU in their most recent 8 contests. Chicago is 6-0 straight up in their last six meetings with Pittsburgh, and in six of the Cubs’ previous seven road games, the totals have gone UNDER. The Chicago Cubs are 5-1 SU in their past six road games against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In their last 5 games against National League opponents, the Cubs have won 5-0 straight up.
Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates 6/21/2023 Predictions, Picks and Odds
The Pittsburgh Pirates, wrapping up a three-game homestand and looking to snap an eight-game losing streak, will host the series finale against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday. After finishing 34-38 overall and splitting its previous 36 home games, Pittsburgh fell to fourth place in the NL Central, a half-game behind third-place Chicago and 4.0 games behind first-place Cincinnati Reds. With 300 runs scored and 336 runs allowed this season, the Pirates have a run differential of -36. The Pittsburgh Pirates have recently had trouble winning games after losing nine of their last ten contests, including the first two games of a home series against the Chicago Cubs. On Tuesday, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes increased his season-hitting average to.259 while Pirates starter Johan Oviedo (3-7) was dubbed a “hard-luck loser” after giving up two runs in six innings of work.
The season’s top offensive performer for Pittsburgh was left fielder Bryan Reynolds, who had a.279 batting average, 40 runs batted in, and 72 hits. Jack Suwinski, a center fielder, led the Pirates in home runs scored with 15, while Andrew McCutchen, a designated hitter, had the greatest on-base percentage on the team for Pittsburgh with a.385. The Pirates’ left-handed starter Rich Hill (6-6, 4.31 ERA) will get the ball for the series finale on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs. With a 6-6 record and a 4.31 ERA for the year, the 43-year-old starter continues providing value for Pittsburgh. In his most recent start, Hill fell 4-5 against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road after giving up four runs (three of which were earned runs) across five innings.
In their previous 8 games, Pittsburgh is 0-8 SU, and in 4 of their last 5 games, the total has gone UNDER. In their previous seven home games, Pittsburgh was 2-5 straight up while their last six games against the Chicago Cubs had the totals go OVER four times. The Pittsburgh Pirates are 1-5 SU in their past six home games against the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. The MLB Pick for this contest is the Chicago Cubs. With momentum after winning eight of the past ten games, including the last two on the road, the Cubs will dominate this matchup, while the Pirates have recently struggled with eight straight defeats. Chicago scored 14th in OPS and 15th in runs after 73 games, while Pittsburgh placed 16th in OPS and 23rd in runs scored. For this game, pick the visiting team to win. The Chicago Cubs will triumph to a predicted score of 5-3.
MLB Starting Time: 12:35 PM ET
Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Date: Wednesday, June 21, 2023
TV: MLBN
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Chicago Cubs -110
MLB Totals: 8.5
