Chicago Cubs (65-58) vs Pittsburgh (51-71)
When: Sunday, August 18th, 2019
Where: Bowman Field,
Williamsport, PA
Time: 7:10 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Chicago -155/10
The MLB Little League Classic from Williamsport, Pennsylvania enters its third edition this Sunday night on ESPN with the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates moving their series finale from PNC Park to 2,366-seat Bowman Field. The Pirates were involved in the inaugural game in 2017, beating another NL Central foe St. Louis 6-3 behind four RBI from Josh Bell. The Classic was made possible with funding from MLB and grants from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania given to the City of Williamsport to provide more than $4 million to improve BB&T Ballpark. These included adding new seats, padding around the infield fence, new irrigation and draining to the field itself, moving the bullpens out beyond the outfield fence, new dugouts closer to home plate, and improved dining areas. The Cubs come into this game with a chance to win their first road series in 15 opportunities after a 2-0 shutout on Saturday behind lefty Jon Lester. Kris Bryant recorded his 25th home run of the season to become on the third Cub third baseman to accomplish that number at least four times in his career – Ron Santo (eight times) and Aramis Ramirez (seven) are the other two. The Pirates had won three of four prior to Saturday’s setback and are well out of the playoff race, while the Cubs occupy the second NL Wild Card spot by a half-game over the Phillies entering Saturday night’s action and a half-game ahead of St. Louis for the division lead.
Pitchers: Cubs – Jose Quintana (10-7, 4.11 ERA) | Pirates – Mitch Keller (1-1, 7.94)
Quintana has been brilliant over his last three starts and struck out a career-high 14 batters in just six innings of Chicago’s 4-2 loss at Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Cubs had won each of the lefties previous seven starts before the loss to the Phillies and is 6-0 with a 3.40 ERA in his last eight outings. Quintana is 4-1 with a 2.81 ERA in eight starts against the Pirates.
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
Keller will make his fifth major league start and is coming off easily his best outing so far, allowing two runs (one earned), five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in five innings of a 10-2 victory over the Angels on Monday. He was hit hard in his first three turns to the tune of a 10.50 ERA in games the Pirates went on to lose. This will be his first crack at the Cubs.
I can see Chicago winning this contest going away with Quintana on the mound, who has been very solid lately and good against the Pirates. In fact, the Cubs are 6-1 against Pittsburgh when Quintana starts including three this year already.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free MLB Picks page for Sunday. He is 110-78 +1998 units on the season after a 11-5 run!
Pick: Cubs -1.5 +100
10 CENT MLB LINES & 1% CASH BACK
BETTING TRENDS:
Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 Sunday games.
Cubs are 9-4 in their last 13 games vs. a starter with a WHIP greater than 1.30.
Cubs are 4-9 in their last 13 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Cubs are 2-5 in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 road games.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 1-4 in their last 5 games on grass.
Cubs are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Cubs are 5-0 in Quintana’s last 5 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Cubs are 4-0 in Quintana’s last 4 starts vs. a team with a losing record.
Cubs are 5-0 in Quintana’s last 5 starts vs. National League Central.
Cubs are 7-1 in Quintana’s last 8 starts.
Cubs are 7-1 in Quintana’s last 8 starts on grass.
Cubs are 4-1 in Quintana’s last 5 starts following a Quality Start in his last appearance.
Cubs are 17-7 in Quintana’s last 24 starts during game 3 of a series.
Cubs are 1-4 in Quintana’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 26-10 in their last 36 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Pirates are 15-37 in their last 52 vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 7-20 in their last 27 games following a loss.
Pirates are 6-20 in their last 26 vs. National League Central.
Pirates are 7-26 in their last 33 overall.
Pirates are 7-26 in their last 33 games on grass.
Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 2-9 in their last 11 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 home games.
Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 1-7 in their last 8 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Pirates are 1-9 in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a winning record.
Pirates are 1-10 in their last 11 during game 3 of a series.
Pirates are 0-5 in their last 5 Sunday games.
Over is 3-0-1 in Cubs last 4 during game 3 of a series.
Under is 9-2-1 in Cubs last 12 vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 4-1 in Cubs last 5 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 13-4-1 in Cubs last 18 vs. National League Central.
Under is 9-3-2 in Cubs last 14 road games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 Sunday games.
Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing record.
Under is 11-4 in Cubs last 15 games following a win.
Under is 11-5-3 in Cubs last 19 games vs. a right-handed starter.
Over is 3-0-1 in Quintana’s last 4 starts during game 3 of a series.
Over is 5-1 in Quintana’s last 6 Sunday starts.
Under is 3-1-1 in Quintana’s last 5 starts on grass.
Under is 3-1-1 in Quintana’s last 5 starts overall.
Under is 10-4 in Quintana’s last 14 starts after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 5-2-1 in Quintana’s last 8 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
Over is 5-2 in Quintana’s last 7 starts vs. National League Central.
Over is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 Sunday games.
Over is 5-1 in Pirates last 6 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 vs. National League Central.
Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 23-6 in Pirates last 29 during game 3 of a series.
Over is 7-2 in Pirates last 9 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of less than .400.
Over is 6-2 in Pirates last 8 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
Over is 18-7-1 in Pirates last 26 games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 30-12-3 in Pirates last 45 home games.
Over is 7-3-1 in Pirates last 11 home games vs. a left-handed starter.
Over is 34-16-1 in Pirates last 51 games following a loss.
Over is 2-0-2 in Keller’s last 4 starts on grass.
Over is 2-0-2 in Keller’s last 4 starts overall.
Cubs are 4-0 in Quintana’s last 4 starts vs. Pirates.
Cubs are 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.
Under is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings in Pittsburgh.
Cubs are 2-6 in the last 8 meetings in Pittsburgh.
