Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 4/23/2022

The Chicago Cubs (6-8), led by Patrick Wisdom on a two-game home run streak, are -174 favorites on the moneyline to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates (7-7). First pitch is set for 2:20 PM ET Saturday, live from Wrigley Field. Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks and Pittsburgh’s Zach Thompson have been named the starters for this contest.

Cubs vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+149) and Under (9.5)

Cubs vs. Pirates Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Kyle Hendricks
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Zach Thompson
• Game Day: Saturday, April 23, 2022
• Game Time: 2:20 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Kyle Hendricks

• Hendricks (0-1) takes the mound for the Cubs in his fourth start of the season. He has a 6.08 ERA in 13 1/3 innings pitched, with 17 strikeouts.
• In his most recent appearance on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays, the righty tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs while surrendering five hits.
• The 32-year-old has an ERA of 6.08, with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, in three games this season. Opposing hitters have a .309 batting average against him.
• The opposing Pirates offense has a collective .245 batting average, and is fifth in the league with 114 total hits and 17th in MLB action with 53 runs scored. It has the 13th-ranked slugging percentage (.368) and ranks 16th in home runs (11) in all of MLB.
• Head-to-head against the Pirates this season, Hendricks has thrown 3 2/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits while striking out four.

Pirates Starter Zach Thompson

• The Pirates will send Thompson to the mound for his third start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, throwing four innings and giving up six earned runs.
• He has pitched to a 9.00 ERA this season with 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings compared to 5.6 walks per nine across two games.
• The Cubs have scored 60 runs this season, which ranks eighth in MLB. They are batting .251 for the campaign with 11 home runs, 16th in the league.
• The Cubs have gone 5-for-17 with a double, a home run and two RBI in four innings this season against the right-hander.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have won one of the four games they’ve played as favorites this season.
• Chicago has played as a favorite of -174 or more once this season and lost that game.
• The Cubs have a 63.5% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• So far this season, Chicago and its opponents have hit the over in six of their 14 games with a total.
• The Cubs are 8-6-0 against the spread this season.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have been victorious in five, or 45.5%, of the 11 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• Pittsburgh has a mark of 2-3 in contests where bookmakers favor them by +149 or worse on the moneyline.
• The Pirates have an implied victory probability of 40.2% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Pittsburgh and their opponents have hit the over in four of their 14 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Pirates are 8-6-0 against the spread in their 14 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Not only does Seiya Suzuki lead the Cubs in hitting with his .333 average, he also is their foremost power hitter with four home runs and 12 RBI.
• Suzuki’s home runs rank him sixth in the majors, and he ranks fifth in RBI.
• Frank Schwindel is batting .226 with three doubles, two home runs and three walks.
• Schwindel ranks 40th in homers and 35th in RBI on the season.
• Schwindel has nine straight games with at least one hit. During his last 10 games he is hitting .231 with three doubles, two home runs, two walks and seven RBI.
• Wisdom is batting .250 with five doubles, two home runs and four walks.
• Wisdom will look to build on his five-game hitting in this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .308 with a double, two home runs, three walks and four RBI.
• Willson Contreras is batting .220 with three doubles, two home runs and five walks.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Michael Chavis has driven in the most runs for the Pirates with seven runs batted in.
• In all of the big leagues, Chavis ranks 40th in homers and 44th in RBI.
• Chavis carries a four-game hitting streak into this matchup. In his last five games he is batting .333 with a home run and two RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach’s three home runs pace his team.
• Vogelbach is currently 14th in homers and 91st in RBI in the major leagues.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes leads the Pirates’ lineup with a .333 batting average.
• Ben Gamel is hitting .237 with a double, a home run and six walks.

Betting Tips for Cubs vs. Pirates

We have the Pirates on the moneyline at +149 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after looking at all of the key trends and stats for this matchup. Our computer prediction sees the scoring going under the total of 9.5 runs.