Pittsburgh (63-70) at Chicago Cubs (71-60)
When: Wednesday, August 30th 2017
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Time: 8:05 ET | TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh, CSN Chicago
Opening Odds: Chicago -190/OFF
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The resurgent Chicago Cubs look for their second consecutive home series sweep when they host the fading Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. Chicago has won five straight at home and eight of its last 11 overall to open a 3.5-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central division standings. Anthony Rizzo continues to swing a hot bat, recording a pair of doubles among his three hits in the Cubs’ 4-1 victory on Tuesday. Rizzo is 10-for-18 during his current five-game hitting streak and is batting .439 with 23 RBIs over his last 15 games. Closer Wade Davis converted his 27th consecutive save opportunity to start the season on Tuesday, passing Ryan Dempster for the longest streak in Cubs history. Ivan Nova looks for his third victory against the Cubs this season when he takes the mound for Pittsburgh on Wednesday against lefty Jose Quintana. The Pirates have lost 12 of their last 17 games, including seven of their last nine on the road. Pittsburgh is now nine games back of the Cubs with 29 games remaining in the season. They will return home after this to open a seven-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds and Cubs. The Pirates have scored fewer than two runs 27 times this season, one behind National League-leading San Francisco.
Pitchers: Pirates – Ivan Nova (11-11, 3.97 ERA) | Cubs – Jose Quintana (8-11, 4.49)
Nova had a great first half of the season, but has gone downhill since, posting a 2-5 record and 6.00 ERA in eight second half starts. Nova has lost three of his last four starts, including his last outing at Cincinnati in which he allowed seven runs – five earned – in five innings. He is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in three career starts against the Cubs.
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Quintana came over from the White Sox at the trade deadline and made an immediate impact with three straight quality starts. Since then, things have not been so great for the lefty, going 4-3 with a 4.50 ERA overall for the Cubbies. Quintana was hit hard by the lowly Philadelphia Phillies in his last outing for six runs and nine hits over five innings in a loss. Quintana’s only previous start against the Pirates was in 2015, when he allowed three runs and nine hits over six innings in a loss.
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Nova was pretty good against the Cubs earlier this season, but that was when he was pitching well and the Cubs were struggling overall. Things are much different now. Chicago should hit Nova pretty good tonight and I expect Quintana to have his best outing since his first start with the Cubs. I’ll take the runline.
Pick: Cubs -1.5 +100
BETTING TRENDS:
- Pirates are 4-0 in their last 4 games after losing the first 2 games of a series.
- Pirates are 6-2 in their last 8 during game 3 of a series.
- Pirates are 5-12 in their last 17 overall.
- Pirates are 3-8 in their last 11 games following a loss.
- Pirates are 8-22 in their last 30 road games vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 2-7 in their last 9 road games.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 1-4 in their last 5 Wednesday games.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Pirates are 1-5 in their last 6 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Pirates are 1-6 in their last 7 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Pirates are 2-5 in Nova’s last 7 starts with 4 days of rest.
- Pirates are 2-5 in Nova’s last 7 starts.
- Pirates are 2-5 in Nova’s last 7 starts on grass.
- Pirates are 0-5 in Nova’s last 5 road starts.
- Pirates are 0-4 in Nova’s last 4 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Pirates are 0-4 in Nova’s last 4 road starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Cubs are 4-0 in their last 4 home games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 5-0 in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Cubs are 5-0 in their last 5 home games.
- Cubs are 8-1 in their last 9 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. National League Central.
- Cubs are 6-2 in their last 8 when their opponent scores 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 overall.
- Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 games on grass.
- Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 games following a win.
- Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 Wednesday games.
- Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Cubs are 53-26 in their last 79 home games vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 road games.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 on grass.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 road games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 6-1 in Pirates last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 17-4 in Pirates last 21 after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 17-4 in Pirates last 21 when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 8-2 in Pirates last 10 Wednesday games.
- Under is 4-1 in Pirates last 5 games vs. a left-handed starter.
- Under is 14-6 in Pirates last 20 during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 23-10 in Pirates last 33 games following a loss.
- Under is 37-18-2 in Pirates last 57 vs. National League Central.
- Under is 8-1 in Nova’s last 9 starts vs. National League Central.
- Under is 5-1 in Nova’s last 6 starts vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 4-1 in Nova’s last 5 starts during game 3 of a series.
- Under is 4-1 in Nova’s last 5 starts after scoring 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Nova’s last 5 starts when their opponent allows 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 7-2 in Nova’s last 9 starts following a team loss in their previous game.
- Under is 10-4 in Nova’s last 14 starts on grass.
- Under is 10-4 in Nova’s last 14 starts overall.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 overall.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 vs. a team with a losing record.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 on grass.
- Under is 4-1-1 in Cubs last 6 games vs. a right-handed starter.
- Over is 6-2 in Cubs last 8 Wednesday games.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Cubs last 5 after allowing 2 runs or less in their previous game.
- Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.
- Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Chicago.
- Pirates are 11-23 in the last 35 meetings.
