Free MLB Playoff Prediction: Cubs vs Pirates
Major League Baseball betting sees the Chicago Cubs taking on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday October 7th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Cappers Picks provides complimentary handicapping picks all MLB season long so stay tuned for more FREE MLB baseball predictions.
MLB Playoffs: NL Wild Card Game
Chicago Cubs (97-65) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64)
Date: Wednesday October 7
Time: 8:00 PM
Venue: PNC Park – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
MLB Betting Lines: Chicago Cubs -130, Pittsburgh +120
MLB Betting Total: 5.5
Probable Pitchers: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Trevor Bauer (19-8, 2.60)
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It seems like these two division mates have been on a collision course for months.
Overall there hasn’t been a ton of drama as the Pirates never really threatened STL and the Cubbies couldn’t slide into a home spot.
Awesome pitching matchup has one of the lowest totals you are going to see in these playoffs. Let’s see if it is a sign of things to come.
Chicago Cubs
Well they did it. This year’s Cubs team was very good, winning more games than any other AL club on the way to making the post season. Now they have one game to extend their season. Its a tough go.
The strength of this team has been its pitching. They finished with the thirst best ERA, best WHIP and most Ks in the Majors this year. It is tough to parlay that into one game though unless…
You have a pitcher like Jake Arrieta to throw at your competition.
For my money I would make him the Cy Young winner in the NL this season. It is a close race but I think he deserves it over those other guys on the Dodgers.
Best of all he has been very good against the Pirates this season (team record of 4-1) with not a single start allowing more than 1 run. You can easily make the case that nobody in the league is better suited to beat Pittsburgh in a one game playoff.
The only question is how he, and a lineup filled with players making their first playoff appearances will perform as the pressure increases.
Pittsburgh
The Pirates finished the regular season with the second best record in baseball, still they are forced to advance their season by participating in a one game playoff – a format they are becoming increasingly familiar with.
By all measures the Pirates are just slightly better than Chicago this season. They are ahead of them in terms of team ERA and scoring but you can make a case that they don’t have the star power that the Cubbies have. They are crafty and very much exceed the sum of their parts.
For this game they will counter with their young ace Gerrit Cole. He really broke through this season and in any other year his 19 victories and 2.60 ERA would have him in the Cy Young conversation too.
Cole is 9-3 at home this season and just beat the Cubs last week pitching beautifully on the road. His last home start against them was so-so.
MLB Betting Trends:
- CHC are 9-0 in their last 9 road games.
- CHC are 0-9 in their last 9 playoff games.
- Under is 9-2-1 in CHC last 12 on grass.
- PIT are 11-4 in their last 15 overall.
- PIT are 11-4 in their last 15 games on grass.
- Under is 7-3 in PIT last 10 on grass.
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One game takes all situations are always tought to call. In this case I think you can make good cases on both sides so I suggest taking the value with Pittsburgh
MLB Baseball Free Score Prediction: Pittsburgh 4 – Chicago 3.
If you want to go with Arrieta and the Cubs it is hard to blame you though.
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