As the new season of Major League Baseball is about to commence, it is time to analyze the next duel between the Pittsburgh Pirates (65-73) and Chicago Cubs (71-68). This is particularly because both teams will play their hearts out as they search for the remaining winning magic. The match is slotted for Wednesday and will take place at Wrigley Field. The action can be viewed on SportsNet PT, Fubo, and ESPN networks. This particular encounter is as important as each team fights for every winning point to enhance their sports premium predictions due to the better we can finish the season.
Pirates vs. Cubs 9/4/24 Game Info and Odds |
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| When: | Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at 7:40 PM ET |
| Where: | Wrigley Field |
| Watch: | SportsNet PT, Fubo, ESPN |
| Pirates odds: | +161 ML |
| Cubs odds: | -192 ML |
| Total Line: | 8 |
Pirates (65-73) vs. Cubs (71-68)
The Pittsburgh Pirates are poised to enter into Sunday’s game as underdogs, having been inconsistent in their prior performances. Revising the previous five games will demonstrate a team that has secured hefty, triumphant returns against solid machinery. They played two last games of the Chicago Cubs, the previous two games, before starting this series and won with the scores of 5-0 and 5-3, respectively, which was a considerable achievement. Their game with Guardians was a mixed affair, as they won 3-0 narrowly, but there were two defeats where the defense let them down, especially an 8-10 route.
| Pirates Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | CHC | 5-0 | Win |
| Sep 2, 2024 | CHC | 5-3 | Win |
| Sep 1, 2024 | CLE | 1-6 | Lose |
| Aug 31, 2024 | CLE | 3-0 | Win |
| Aug 30, 2024 | CLE | 8-10 | Lose |
On the other hand, the Chicago Cubs, who have a working record, have been quite good in their recent clashes. Recently, the Cubs have found form, as they have a record of 9 wins and 3 losses in the last 12 games. Although they have struggled recently with the Pittsburgh team, the wins over the Nationals demonstrate a team with the ability to put together big innings, evidenced by a lopsided 14-1 thrashing of their opponents on September 1. Also, their loss to the Pittsburgh team at home, despite them already losing 7 of the last 8 against them, raises concerns about the team’s ability to win games at Wrigley Field.
| Cubs Last 5 Games | |||
| Date | Opponent | Score | SU |
| Sep 3, 2024 | PIT | 0-5 | Lose |
| Sep 2, 2024 | PIT | 3-5 | Lose |
| Sep 1, 2024 | WSH | 14-1 | Win |
| Aug 31, 2024 | WSH | 5-3 | Win |
| Aug 30, 2024 | WSH | 7-6 | Win |
Domingo German (0-0, 6.11 ERA) vs. Shota Imanaga (11-3, 3.14 ERA)
While Domingo German of the Pirates has no win-loss record this season, he has a dismal ERA of 6.11 in only 17.2 innings pitched. Based on the limited number of innings pitched this season, it seems that German is battling to find a rhythm, further emphasized by a poor WHIP of 1.58. His performance will be very important as he faces a lineup that has proven they can put up a lot of runs, suggesting that it will not be easy for him to maneuver through the Cubs bats.
For the Cubs, Imanaga Shota displays a solid arsenal, going 11-3 with a performance rating of 3.14 over 146.1 innings pitched. Imanaga has great control as evidenced by a WHIP of 1.05 and 148 strikeouts, which also means he can be effective in situations with high pressure. Restricting walks and homers would be critical in containing the surging Pirates offense, as they have shown inconsistency over their last several games.
MLB Odds/Point Spread: Cubs -1.5 +114, Total Odds: 8
The betting landscape sees the Cubs favored at -1.5, reflecting confidence in Imanaga’s continued performance and the team’s ability to rebound at home. However, the total at 8 is a tricky pick, given the recent under trend in Pirates’ road games and the Cubs’ penchant for higher-scoring affairs.
Pirates Betting Trends
The betting trends for the Pirates show a team that has struggled on the road but has recently found form, especially against the Cubs. Their recent road games have mostly stayed UNDER the total points, with a strong record of 7-1 SU when playing at Wrigley Field, an interesting anomaly given their overall season struggles.
Cubs Betting Trends
The Cubs’ trends reflect a team that has excelled in scoring, contributing to the total going OVER in many of their recent games. Despite a strong overall performance, their specific trend against the Pirates at home shows a concerning 1-7 SU record, making this matchup particularly challenging to predict based on past trends alone.
Pirates vs. Cubs 9/4/24 Betting Picks
Thus, considering the historical performances of both teams, as well as their current forms and status, this game is hard for the bettors. It seems the Cubs will have the edge in pitching with Imanaga on the mound, which may translate to finally reversing the poor run against the Pirates at Wrigley Field this season. The fact that the Pirates have performed well above expectations in Chicago may make some people like them even more, especially the money line.
In terms of MLB free game day picks, taking into account the skills of Imanaga and the bare logic of the Cubs’ fight for the home turf against the Pirates, it is fair to assume that Imanaga will lead the Cubs to the victory and cover the spread. These trends being mixed pretty much means that those betting on the totals should exercise some discretion, although betting on the UNDER is better given the big pitching duel and the last several tightly contested games.