Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs 6/15/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
The Pittsburgh Pirates will go against the Chicago Cubs in MLB action at Wrigley Field, IL, on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at 8:05 PM ET.
The only team in the NL Central with a winning record is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who won seven of their previous eleven contests.
Pittsburgh ranks 19th in MLB offensively, scoring 4.5 runs per game, 16th in batting average (.248), and 24th in home run production (less than one per game).
The key to Pittsburgh’s success was speed. The squad is second in MLB with 70 stolen bases, paced by Ji-hwan Bae’s 19 steals.
The Pirates have a 4.23 ERA as a club, which ranks them 16th in MLB, but over their last 10 games, both their starters and relievers struggled, raising the ERA to 5.36.
The 43-year-old left-hander Rich Hill (6-5, 4.23 ERA) is slated to debut on Thursday. Hill has a 3.68 ERA and a 3-2 record on the road.
Hill started both previous matches for the Pirates, giving up just three earned runs in the last 13.2 innings while striking out 12 and walking 5.
The bullpen pitchers gave up 81 runs this year, and 27.2% scored. For the season, the Pirates sent 199 relievers to the mound.
The bullpen recorded 33 holds this season, ranking 22nd in the league. They made 19 saves this year, while seven of their 26 save opportunities were missed.
- The total went over in five of Pittsburgh’s last seven matches.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are 2-5 SU in their last seven matches.
- The Pittsburgh Pirates are 1-7 SU in their last eight matches against the Chicago Cubs.
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Predictions 6/15/2023
The Cubs only won 19 of their previous 50 games after a promising start, but most recently four of their last five. Despite having a terrible record overall, the Cubs are only 4.5 games behind in the division.
Chicago entered Wednesday generating 4.4 runs per game, ranking 20th with 1.2 home runs per game, 18th with a.245 batting average, and 18th overall.
Patrick Wisdom is second on the club in RBI with 28 and is first on the team with 14 home runs. This season, eight Cubs players scored 20 to 28 runs for their team.
On Thursday, the 15th-ranked Chicago pitching staff, which has a 4.19 ERA, will rely on its ace. Right-hander Marcus Stroman, who is 5’7″ and 32 years old, is having an All-Star-caliber season (7-4, 2.42 ERA), going 4-3 with a 2.15 ERA in seven home starts.
In their 56 at-bats, the active Pirates have a combined.310 on-base percentage against Stroman but no homers.
In 15 opportunities for saves, Chicago bullpen pitchers entered the game and secured nine saves. They sent 206 relievers to the mound this season and are ranked 19th in baseball with a save percentage of 60.0%.
Their relief pitchers entered 48 times with heavy leverage and 55 with runners on base. Of the 92 inherited base runners, the Chicago bullpen pitchers’ inherited scoring percentage is 28.3%.
The Cubs have 44 save opportunities and recorded 28 holds in addition to six missed saves.
- The total went under in 11 of the Chi-Cows’ last 15 matches.
- The Chi Cubs are 4-1 SU in their last five matches.
- The total went over in four Chicago Cubs’ last five matches against Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs The MLB pick for this game is the Chicago Cubs. Given the beginning pitching matchup, the Cubs should continue hitting lefties better than the Pirates did against righties this season.
Marcus Stroman was on a tear with each of his previous five starts yielding a Cubs victory, compiling a 1.26 ERA. With those victories against the Giants, Padres, Rays, Mets, and Phillies, the opposition was not the easiest variety.
With a 4.06 ERA over his last five starts, Rich Hill was respectable but not quite at the same level.
The Pirates triumphed in three of Hill’s most recent appearances, although during that time he was trounced by the Giants and Rangers and had his best performance against the Tigers.
I’ll support Chicago. The Chicago Cubs will win by a predicted score of 7-3.
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs 6/15/2023 Picks Predictions Previews
MLB Starting Time: 8:05 PM ET
Location: Wrigley Field, IL
Date: Thursday, June 15, 2023
TV: Marquee
MLB Odds: Chicago Cubs -156
MLB Totals: 8.5