Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Betting Preview for Friday

Pirates Look to Even Series Tonight

Friday, August 17 at 7:05 PM ET

PNC Park

Overcast 79°F

Wind: 9mph Blowing Out to L

Odds: Cubs -136-moneyline favorites. Total is at 8 -110.


The Chicago Cubs continue their four-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs won last night's game 1-0 behind six scoreless innings from Jon Lester and a solo home run from Ian Happ. 

Hamels continues to thrive with the Cubs

Cole Hamels (7-9, 4.22 ERA, 1.30 WHIP) gave up just one earned run on one hit and a walk with nine strikeouts over seven innings. He settled for a no-decision in Sunday's 4-3 win against the Nationals.

Hamels is 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA in 12 road starts and the change of scenery appears to be just what he needed to get his season on track.

The Cubs have scored 585 runs (7th in the majors), putting up 4.88 runs per game (6th), hitting .264 (2nd) with 125 home runs (22nd). Chicago ranks 12th with a 3.82 ERA, 19th with a 1.34 WHIP and 19th with 989 strikeouts.

Their bullpen ranks 4th with a 3.30 ERA. Javier Baez leads the Cubs with 25 home runs, 89 RBI and 129 hits.

Kyle Schwarber has 20 home runs and 48 RBI and Anthony Rizzo has 18 home runs, 78 RBI and a team-best .362 OBP.

Williams dominates the Giants

Trevor Williams (10-8, 3.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP) threw seven scoreless innings against the Giants last Saturday. He surrendered five hits and a walk with two strikeouts in a 4-0 win.

Williams has four scoreless outings in his last five starts. He has posted an 0.62 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP in that span (29 innings) but also just a 1.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio (K/BB).

The Pirates have scored 550 runs (14th in the majors), putting up 4.51 runs per game (14th), hitting .255 (7th) with 127 home runs (21st). Pittsburgh ranks 18th with a 4.20 ERA, 22nd with a 1.35 WHIP and 21st with 974 strikeouts.

Their bullpen ranks 19th with a 4.21 ERA.

Gregory Polanco leads the Pirates with 19 home runs and 67 RBI.

Starling Marte has 17 home runs and 57 RBI and Corey Dickerson has team-bests with a .303 batting average and 118 hits.

 

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MLB Trends:

 The Chicago Cubs are:

9-3 in their last 12 games against a right-handed starter

10-4 in their last 14 Friday games

3-0 in games started by Cole Hamles 

 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are:

5-11 in Williams' last 16 starts against a team with a winning record

3-8 in Williams' last 11 starts after scoring two runs or less in their previous game

Cole Hamels has been extremely dominant since joining the Cubs. He has gone 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA and an 0.83 WHIP in three starts. The veteran lefty has gived up just three runs (two earned) in 18 innings.

He beat the Pirates in his first start with the Cubs on August 1. Hamels allowed just one unearned run on three hits and two walks with nine strikeouts over five innings.

Hamels has a 2.72 ERA in 11 career starts against the Pirates and a 1.07 ERA in six career starts at PNC Park.

 

MLB Pick: Cubs -136 at Jazz Sportsbook

 Check odds here: https://goo.gl/dVwAAb

 Odds as seen on ESPN Chalk: https://goo.gl/ji6GJZ

 

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