Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: White Sox vs Nationals- September 19th - Max Confidence Comp
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The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Chicago Cubs with both teams on opposite ends of the National League Central Division to close out the season. The Pirates have a 70-81 record and are in fourth place in the division. The Cubs have a 79-72 record and are in a tight race for the final wild card spot in the National League. For the upcoming game, the Pirates will turn to Quinn Priester as their starting pitcher while the Cubs will turn to Justin Steele who hopes to bounce back after allowing seven runs in his last outing.
Pirates hope Priester and lineup can improve
The Pirates looked promising at times this season but fell apart at the end of the year and hope to put together a strong finish to bring optimism into next season. Quinn Priester is one of the young pitchers in the rotation but is having an awful season on the mound, allowing 33 runs in 32.2 innings pitched. Moreover, with a .292 expected opponent Batting Average, a .486 expected opponent Slugging Percentage, and a 6.25 expected ERA, opponents are making contact and powering the ball against Priester to easily drive in runs.
Prietser has struggled but the lineup has let the Pirates down this year, scoring only 4.19 runs per game. Bryan Reynolds is slashing .272/.333/.474 with 22 home runs and 251 total bases while Jack Suwinski is slashing .214/.335/.453 with 25 home runs and 184 total bases but the rest of the lineup has struggled. Only three active batters have an OPS+ over 100 and opposing pitchers can eliminate the hapless lineup as a result.
Free Daily Lock Pick: MLB: White Sox vs Nationals- September 19th - Max Confidence Comp Click to see the pick now
Cubs hope Steele and lineup step up
The Cubs are having a great season and hope to secure a spot in the wild card in the final weeks of the season. Justin Steele will start the upcoming game and he has become the ace of the staff, allowing only 62 runs in 165 innings pitched while tossing 164 strikeouts. Additionally, with a .357 expected opponent Slugging Percentage, a 5.3 Barrel Percentage, and a 3.41 expected ERA, opponents are making weak contact off the bat and struggling to drive in runs against Steele this season.
Steele has stepped up but the lineup has carried the Cubs this year, scoring 4.99 runs per game. Cody Bellinger is slashing .311/.356/.534 with 25 home runs and 244 total bases while Seiya Suzuki is slashing .275/.346/.470 with 18 home runs and 222 total bases but the rest of the lineup has also stepped up. Christopher Morel is slashing .246/.311/.496 with 23 home runs and 175 total bases while Patrick Wisdom and Dansby Swanson have added 41 home runs and 342 total bases to round out the lineup, making the Cubs tough to stop at the plate.
Best Bets for this Game
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Pirates look to pull off the upset but the Cubs look to improve their position in the wild card race and I see them controlling this game from the first inning. The Cubs should drive in runs at will with Cody Bellinger, Patrick Wisdom, and the rest of the lineup making hard contact and powering the ball to easily drive in runs. The Cubs should limit a Pirates lineup that averages only 4.19 runs per game with Justin Steele bouncing back from a start where he allowed six runs and pitching multiple scoreless innings to allow the bullpen to close out the game with a lead. The Cubs should win the game and cover the spread in a dominant win at home.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
The Cubs have been carried but their lineup and I see both teams stepping up at the plate and driving in runs from the first pitch. The Pirates should constantly drive in runs with Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, and the rest of the lineup making contact and putting together strong plate appearances. The Cubs, who average 4.99 runs per game, should run up the score with Cody Bellinger, Patrick Wisdom, Dansby Swanson, and the rest of the lineup swinging for the fences and crushing pitches to circle the bases at will. The Over should cover in a high-scoring game with both lineups stepping up.
Take the Over on 8.5 runs.