Chicago Cubs (61-45) at Pittsburgh (56-52)
When: Wednesday, August 1st 2018
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Time: 7:05 ET | TV: MLB Network
Opening Odds: Chicago -125/8.5
The Pittsburgh Pirates don’t seem to want to give up this season, as they made a big trade prior to the deadline on Tuesday and will try and keep the momentum going when they host the Chicago Cubs for the second of two at PNC Park on Wednesday. Pittsburgh edged the Cubs 5-4 in the series opener Tuesday, as Francisco Cervelli and Gregory Polanco homered and Chicago’s Addison Russell was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple with no outs in the ninth. The Pirates, who evened the season series at five apiece, have won 16 of their last 20 overall to get within six games of the first-place Cubs. Pittsburgh surprisingly landed ace Chris Archer from Tampa Bay and adding reliever Keone Kela from Texas to bolster their staff. Veteran left-hander Cole Hamels will make his Cubs debut and look to build on a solid record at PNC Park, where he is 1-1 with a 1.22 ERA in five career starts. Hamels wasn’t the only addition the Cubs made ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline, as they also picked up reliever Brandon Kintzler from Washington. The Pirates have struggled this season against lefties, hitting only .238, and just .133 over their last 10 games.
Pitchers: Cubs – Cole Hamels (5-9, 4.72 ERA) | Pirates – Nick Kingham (5-5, 4.80)
Hamels is back in the National League and probably feels he’s getting a second chance as he’s really struggled this season. Hamels has not recorded a quality start in his last five outings, posting a 10.23 ERA over that span, but that followed a stretch in which he had six quality starts in eight outings. He is 3-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 10 starts against the Pirates, but he hasn’t faced them since 2016.
Nick Kingham had been rolling, but is coming off a rough outing against the New York Mets in which he allowed six runs over three-plus innings. Kingham issued a season-high four walks, struggling with his command in that outing. He is 0-1 against the Cubs despite limiting them to five runs over 12 innings across two starts.
I really think this will be new-life for Hamels and he’ll get off to a winning start in his Cubs debut. Kingham has struggled in night games and the Pirates have lost both games against the Cubs this season in which he has started.
Pick: Cubs -116
BETTING TRENDS:
- Cubs are 12-5 in their last 17 during game 2 of a series.
- Cubs are 12-5 in their last 17 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Cubs are 61-29 in their last 90 games following a loss.
- Cubs are 3-10 in their last 13 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Pirates are 9-0 in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 during game 2 of a series.
- Pirates are 7-0 in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Pirates are 11-1 in their last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 11-2 in their last 13 games following a win.
- Pirates are 11-2 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 5-1 in their last 6 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 10-2 in their last 12 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Pirates are 9-2 in their last 11 home games.
- Pirates are 13-3 in their last 16 vs. National League Central.
- Pirates are 8-2 in their last 10 Wednesday games.
- Pirates are 16-5 in their last 21 overall.
- Pirates are 16-5 in their last 21 games on grass.
- Pirates are 1-5 in Kingham’s last 6 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Cubs last 5 when their opponent scores 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Cubs last 4 games following a loss.
- Under is 5-0 in Cubs last 5 after allowing 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 overall.
- Under is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 on grass.
- Over is 11-4 in Cubs last 15 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 11-4 in Cubs last 15 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Under is 5-2 in Cubs last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-3 in Cubs last 10 Wednesday games.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 games vs. a starter with a WHIP less than 1.15.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Pirates last 4 when their opponent allows 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 3-0-1 in Pirates last 4 after scoring 5 runs or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 games following a win.
- Over is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Pirates last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 6-2-1 in Pirates last 9 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Over is 11-5 in Pirates last 16 Wednesday games.
- Under is 40-19-2 in Pirates last 61 during game 2 of a series.
- Over is 4-1 in Kingham’s last 5 home starts.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
