MLB Preview Chicago Cubs (29-22) at Pittsburgh Pirates (28-26) Wednesday, May 30 First Pitch at 7:05
MLB Preview Chicago Cubs (29-22) at Pittsburgh Pirates (28-26) by entity wagering investment company mkinvestllc. Wednesday, May 30 First Pitch at 7:05 PM EST, PNC Park, Pittsburgh.
The cubs have taken the first 2-games in Pittsburgh heading into game 3 of this 3-game series and will be looking for the sweep before heading to New York to take on the Mets. The Cubs are now in 2nd place in the NL Central and continue to chase the first place Milwaukee Brewers and have won 3 in row and 4 of their last five games. Chicago has been bringing the bats scoring 8, 7, and 8 runs over their last 3 games. The Cubbies are 13 – 7 in their last 20 games. During this stretch the Cubs had a 5-game winning streak where they scored double digit runs in 3 of the games, scoring a whopping 50 runs in those 5 games. While they are probably not going to reach another 50 runs in 5 games, the current 23 runs in 3 games is not bad, right?
The Pittsburgh Pirates seem to be heading the other direction as they have lost 8 of their last 10-games, including 4 in a row. This, coming on the heals of what looked to be a turn around for the Pirates that seen them win 5 in row and 9 of 10 games before this current 2 – 9 streak. While the Pirates have just 1 less win then the cubs they are in 4th place in NL Central chasing the Cards, Cubs, and Brewers.
The visiting Cubs send Kyle Hendricks to the mound who owns a 4 – 3 record and an ERA of 3.16. On the road Hendricks is 1 – 0 with an ERA of 4.71. Overall, he has thrown 62.2 innings allowing 24 runs on 51 hits while striking out 51 batters. Hendricks has face Pittsburgh 10 times going 6 – 4 in those 10 games, making 4 starts in Pittsburgh and is 3 – 1 in those 4 starts. Hendricks faced Pittsburgh in April going 6 innings allowing 2 runs but took the loss.
The home team sends out Joe Musgrove for just his second start of the season. His first start came five days ago against the St. Louis Cardinals where he threw 7 shutout innings on 5 hits while striking out 7. Musgrove is in his 3rd year having spent his first two season in the American League with Houston, going 4 – 4 with an ERA of 4.06 in 2016 and 7 – 9 overall in 2017 with an ERA of 4.77. Overall in his 2 years in Houston, Musgrove threw 171.1 innings and an average ERA of 4.57. He has faced the Cubs one time in 2016 going 6 innings allowing 2 runs but took the Loss.
Inside the numbers with entity wagering investment company mkinvestllc:
The Cubbies are 4 – 1 in their last 5 road games and 4 – 1 in their last 5 games against the NL Central. Long term the Cubbies are 37 – 15 in their last 52 road games when facing a right-handed starter. Chicago is just 3 – 7 when Hendricks starts the game against a NL Central team.
Pittsburgh is 1 – 7 in their last 8 home games, 1 – 4 in their last 5 against the NL Central, and 2 – 6 the last 8 times they faced a right-handed starter.
Head-to-Head the Chicago Cubs are 18 - 7 the last 25 games played in Pittsburgh.
Opening Line: Chicago Cubs -1.25, Pittsburgh Pirates +1.15 the total has been set at 8
Prediction by mkinvestllc, an entity investment wagering company: The cubs look like they are on their way to a sweep of the Pirates and the -1.25 line is a fair price to take.