Cubs vs. Pirates Pick & Predictions- August 26th

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Date: Monday, August 26th, 6:40 ET
Location: PNC Park
TV: SN PT
Money Line: Cubs -107/Pirates -112
Total Line: 8.5

Betting Preview

Here’s our betting preview for the upcoming MLB clash between the
Pittsburgh Pirates and the Cubs on Monday, August 26th at PNC Park. We provide you with a
comprehensive analysis, odds, and predictions to help with your handicapping decision or tail our
expert based on the projected lineups and listed starting pitchers.

Betting Odds

Chicago and Pittsburgh are set to square off in an NL Central matchup at 6:40 PM ET at PNC
Park in Pittsburgh, PA. The Cubs are 65-66 this season, while the Pirates are 62-68. Chicago is
3rd in the NL Central, while the Pirates are 5th.

SN PT will be televising Monday’s Cubs and Pirates matchup, and the money line odds have the
Cubs at -107 compared to the Pirates at -112. The over/under line is currently at 8.5 runs, and
tonight’s pitching matchup is Jameson Taillon for the Pirates and Mitch Keller for the Cubs.

Cubs vs. Pirates Projected Lineup

Straight Up/Over-Under/ Runline Record

Chicago Cubs: 65-66 SU / OU 58-68 / Runline
63-68
Pittsburgh Pirates: 62-68 SU / OU 62-66 / Runline 74-56

Cubs Records & Recent Play

Heading into their last game vs. the Marlins, the Cubs closed out the series with a 7-2 loss.
Chicago was the heavy favorite at -177. Things started off well for the Cubs, as they got on the
board with a run in the 2nd inning but gave up the lead right away as the Marlins scored two runs
in the bottom of the first.

Javier Assad put together a good start for the Cubs, going seven innings and giving up just
three earned runs, and striking out three. However, he took the loss, as the Cubs’s offense
scored only two runs. Ian Happ was hot at the plate, going 3/5 with two doubles, a run scored,
and an RBI.

With a record of 65-66, the Cubs are 3rd in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by 10.5
games. So far, they have gone just 17-26 in divisional games. The Cubs are on the road today, and
they are 29-37 on the road compared to 36-29 at home.

Chicago has won three straight series, and they took two of three from the Marlins in their
most recent series. As the road favorite, the Cubs are 10-10 this year and 33-32 as the favorite
overall. Their overall series record is 17-21-3 heading into today’s game.

Chicago has been a good run line bet on the road this season, going 38-28. They have a run
line record of 63-68 overall, and their average run margin is +0.1 runs per game. The Cubs have
been a better run line bet as an underdog, going 44-22, compared to 19-46 as a favorite. Their
average run differential in winning games is +3.5 runs per game, compared to -3.2 runs per game
in losses.

The Chicago Cubs are on the road today against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The O/U line for
today’s game is set at 8.5 runs, which is slightly higher than their combined run average of 8.4
runs per game. The Cubs have an O/U record of 58-68 on the season, and their games have had an
average O/U line of 8 runs. When the O/U line has been set at 8.5 runs this season, the Cubs have
gone over the total in 16 of 29 games (55.2%).

Pirates Records & Recent Play

The Pirates are coming off a game in which they closed out their series vs. the Reds with a
4-3 win. This was especially big, as it allowed them to pick up the series win. Leading up to the
game, they were the slight favorite at -108 on the money line. It was the Pirates offense that
carried them to the win, as they scored four runs on 10 hits and hit a home run.

Luis Ortiz put together a good start for the Pirates, going six innings and not giving up a
run. He also issued just one walk and struck out five. Yasmani Grandal had only one hit, but it
was a home run, and the Pirates scored three runs in the 7th to take the lead. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
also had a good day at the plate, going 3/4 with two RBIs.

Pittsburgh is set to host the Cubs with an overall record of 62-68, putting them 5th in the NL
Central. They are 13.0 games behind the Brewers for the division lead. The Pirates head into
today’s game with an overall record of 20-16 in divisional matchups.

The Pirates have been good at home this year, going 32-33, and they are 30-35 on the road. As
the underdog, Pittsburgh is 35-46 this year and 27-22 when favored. Their overall series record
is 18-18-5, and they won their most recent series vs. the Reds. Pittsburgh is 6-4 across their
last 10 games overall.

The Pirates have been a solid play on the run line this season, going 74-56 overall. They have
been especially good on the road, going 40-25 against the run line. They have been a good bet as
the underdog, going 55-26 against the run line. They have also been a good bet on the run line in
their last four games as the underdog.

Today’s over/under line of 8.5 runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home game against the Chicago
Cubs is right in line with their season average of 8.5 runs per game. The Pirates have played
26-20 to the over when the line is set at 8.5 runs, and overall, their games have gone over the
total 62 times and under 66 times this season. Just 16.2% of their games have had higher lines
than 8.5 runs, with 48.5% of their games having lower lines.

Pitching Matchup

Chicago is sending Jameson Taillon to the mound today vs. the Pirates, and he comes in with a
record of 8-8 and an ERA of 3.77. So far this year, he has made 22 starts, and opponents have a
batting average of .247 vs. Taillon. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up four earned
runs in five innings of work. Taillon has given up at least two homers in three straight outings.
One positive note is that he has a WHIP of 1.20 for the season.

Mitch Keller will be looking to build off his last outing, where he didn’t give up a run. In
that start vs. the Rangers, he went seven innings and picked up the win. Looking at his overall
numbers, Keller has made 25 starts and has a record of 11-7. His ERA for the season is 3.76,
along with a WHIP of 1.21. The right-hander has turned in 13 quality starts this year, and his
ERA at home is 2.83 compared to 5.36 on the road. Per nine innings, Keller is averaging 8.13
strikeouts and 2.43 walks.

Cubs vs. Pirates Offense Outlook

Over the last five games, Seiya Suzuki has gone 8/20 with two home runs and four RBIs. Suzuki
has been one of the Cubs’ top power threats this season, as he is 2nd on the team with 18 homers.
Ian Happ leads the team with 23 homers and 72 RBIs, but he is batting just .234 for the
season.

Chicago’s offense is averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. They have been
a better offensive team on the road this season, averaging 4.4 runs per game. Overall, the Cubs
are 16th in batting average and 16th in on-base percentage. As a team, they are 16th in home runs
and have the 16th best slugging percentage in the league.

Heading into today’s game, the Pirates are averaging just 4.1 runs per game, which is 23rd in
the MLB. They are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and team batting average. One
thing the Pirates have done well is avoid striking out, as they are 24th in the league in
strikeouts per game. The team’s collective on-base percentage and OPS are also near the bottom of
the league.

Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz are the Pirates’ top home run hitters this season, but
Reynolds has the better batting average of the two, hitting .279 compared to De La Cruz’s .242
mark. Reynolds also leads the team with 71 RBIs. Oneil Cruz is also batting .265 and is 2nd on
the team in RBIs. Yasmani Grandal has gone 4/12 in his last three games, with two homers and two
runs scored.

Free Cubs vs. Pirates MLB Pick

Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz are the Pirates’ top home run hitters this season, but Reynolds has the better batting average of the two, hitting .279 compared to De La Cruz’s .242 mark. Reynolds also leads the team with 71 RBIs. Oneil Cruz is also batting .265 and is 2nd on the team in RBIs. Yasmani Grandal has gone 4/12 in his last three games, with two homers and two runs scored.

Free Cubs vs. Pirates MLB Pick

If the Cubs are going to have any chance at making a late push for an NL Wild Card spot, they will need to get hot. And vs. a last place Pirates club, they will need to take care of business starting tonight in Pittsburgh. But in a matchup between Jameson Taillon and Mitch Keller, I like the Pirates on the money line.