Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and best bets
The Chicago Cubs (32-22) and Pittsburgh Pirates (15-39) will square off at PNC Park Tuesday night with first pitch slated for 7:05 p.m. ET. We analyze the Cubs-Pirates betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.
Cubs at Pirates: Projected starting pitchers
LHP Jose Quintana vs. LHP Steven Brault
Quintana has yet to factor into a decision this season in only two relief appearances, posting a 6.00 ERA with nine strikeouts.
- Quintana is making his first start of the season after being activated off the 10-day injured list. His last relief appearance was Aug. 30.
- Last season against the Pirates, Quintana was 4-1 with a 4.19 ERA in six starts.
Brault has just one win this season to go along with three losses, owning a 4.04 ERA with 32 strikeouts through 35 2/3 innings.
- In his last start, Brault pitched a complete-game two-hitter against the St. Louis Cardinals, completely shutting down St. Louis' lineup.
- In nine starts this season, Brault's ERA is an impressive 3.03. He was roughed up in his only relief appearance with four earned runs allowed without recorded an out.
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Cubs at Pirates: Key injuries
(Get the latest injury news here.)
Cubs
- 3B Kris Bryant (oblique) questionable
- 2B Ildemaro Vargas (hamstring) out
Pirates
- OF Anthony Alford (elbow) out
- SS Cole Tucker (concussion) out
- RP Keone Kela (forearm) out
Cubs at Pirates: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 12:40 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Cubs 5, Pirates 3
Money line (ML)
The CUBS (-154) come into this one having won six of their last eight games. The Pirates (+140) are going the opposite direction and are 1-13 in their last 14 contests. It's abundantly clear which team is looking better ahead of this matchup, though the Cubs' money line remains a decent value.
Take the CUBS (-154) to win outright with Quintana on the mound, even though it's his first start of the year. The Pirates are too injured and haven't shown enough offensively to win this one.
New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Cubs to win returns a profit of $6.50.
Run line/Against the spread (ATS)
The Cubs are giving 1.5 runs with the spread (+100) Tuesday night. This comes after they blanked the Pirates 5-0 in the first game of the series and with three of their last six wins coming by at least two runs.
I feel good about the Cubs covering in this one, even if Bryant can't go. Take the CUBS -1.5 (+100) to win by at least a couple of runs.
Over/Under (O/U)
The Over/Under is 8.5 runs tonight with both the Over and Under carrying odds of -110. The total has gone Under in four of the Cubs' last five games and in 10 of the Pirates' last 15 games against National League opponents.
Take the UNDER 8.5 (-110) tonight.
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