Chicago Cubs (67-60) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (57-71)
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 8/26/2023 – Embarking on the continuation of a road journey, the Chicago Cubs find themselves in Pittsburgh on Saturday, engaging in the third game out of a four-game series against the Pirates. With a victory in four out of their last six matches, the Cubs maintain a positive stance, currently positioned 6 games above .500, despite losing in the second game of this series. In terms of offensive performance, Chicago has displayed consistency this season, boasting a collective team average of .254 and having successfully scored 641 runs across 128 games. Evidently, power is a forte for Chicago, as reflected by their substantial .419 slugging percentage and a remarkable total of 154 home runs. At the forefront of Chicago’s batting lineup stands Cody Bellinger, wielding the most impactful bat with an impressive .316 batting average, and leading the team with 68 RBIs.
As for the Pittsburgh Pirates, they remain situated at their home turf, 13 games below .500, following a triumphant encounter in the second game of this series, ending their two-game losing streak. Regarding offensive performance, Pittsburgh’s struggles are evident this season, with a meager tally of 538 runs scored from 999 hits across 129 games. Bryan Reynolds shoulders the weight for the Pittsburgh offense, emerging as a stalwart with a .264 batting average and contributing a team-leading 60 RBIs. Get insightful predictions and analysis with free expert baseball picks today.
Cubs vs. Pirates Game Info
| When: | Saturday, August 26, 2023 7:15 PM ET. |
|---|---|
| Where: | PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PN |
| TV: | FOX |
| Stream: | MLB.TV |
Javier Assad (2-2, ERA: 3.13) vs Bailey Falter (1-7, ERA: 4.53)
Javier Assad will take the mound for Chicago on Saturday as they face the Pirates. Over the past month, Assad’s role has evolved from an opener to a bona fide starter for the Cubs. With a record of 2-2 for the season, he has participated in 23 outings, which now include five starts. Assad has conceded 60 hits across 72 innings pitched, resulting in an ERA of 3.13. In his most recent five games, four of which were starts, Assad has maintained a record of 1-0 alongside a commendable ERA of 2.45. Impressively, he has surrendered only 19 hits across 25.2 innings of play and has recorded 17 strikeouts. When competing away from home, Assad boasts an impressive ERA of just 2.39 across 26.1 innings of work.
Bailey Falter will take the mound for Pittsburgh on Saturday, marking his 13th appearance and 11th start of the season. Falter finds himself with a record six games below .500 and an ERA of 4.53, having yielded 37 runs over 59.2 innings of effort. Falter’s challenges extend to his home performances, where he has struggled, allowing fifteen runs over 24.2 innings across five outings.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Chicago Cubs -145, Total Odds: 10.0
They will have time when the Cubs prepare to face the Pirates on Saturday. Additionally, as the squad continues to rotate starters, Assid has been outstanding recently. He ought to succeed against a Pirates lineup that is only the 24th-best in baseball this season in terms of runs scored per game.
The Cubs lineup should be able to go into a somewhat exposed Pirates bullpen and put up some runs on Sunday since the Pirates are probably going to start an opener on Saturday. The Cubs have averaged more than six runs per game in their previous three games, moving them up to sixth place in baseball in runs scored per game. On Saturday night, the Cubs should easily prevail.
Chicago Cubs Betting Trends
The Chicago Cubs are 8-1 SU in their last 9 outings against the Pirates.
The total went OVER in 6 of the Chi Cubs’ last 7 games on the road.
The Cubs are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games on the road against Pittsburgh.
The Chi Cubs are 13-6 SU in their last 19 games against an opponent in the NL.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends
The total went OVER in 6 of Pittsburgh’s last 9 games against the Cubs.
The total hung OVER in 10 of Pittsburgh’s last 13 games at home.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 1-5 SU in their last 6 games at home against Chi Cubs.
The total spilled OVER in 11 of Pittsburgh’s last 15 games against an opponent in the National League.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 8/26/2023 Betting Picks
In this game, the Chicago Cubs are the superior club, and they need the victories as the season nears its conclusion. Chicago must defeat bad opponents even when on the road if it wants to secure a postseason place. Take Chicago to perform adequately on Saturday as they rely on their bullpen to dominate a weak Pittsburgh club and secure the victory. The Chicago Cubs will perform well enough on Saturday to secure the victory. Get reliable insights and predictions with free sports picks today.
Free Pick and Prediction: Chicago Cubs will win 7-2.