Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/17/2022

The Chicago Cubs (14-20) will put their three-game win streak to the test when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-20) Tuesday at 7:40 PM ET. Oddsmakers consider the Cubs -140 favorites to extend their streak, while the Pirates are +120 underdogs looking for the upset. Keegan Thompson will get the ball for Chicago while Pittsburgh counter with JT Brubaker.

Cubs vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+120) and Over (7)

Cubs vs. Pirates Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Keegan Thompson
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: JT Brubaker
• Game Day: Tuesday, May 17, 2022
• Game Time: 7:40 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Keegan Thompson

• Thompson (2-0) gets the start for the Cubs, his second of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Wednesday against the San Diego Padres, when he tossed four innings, allowing two earned runs while giving up five hits.
• In his eight games this season, opposing hitters have a collective batting average of only .209 against him. He has a 1.67 ERA and averages 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings.
• The opposing Pirates offense has the 25th-ranked slugging percentage (.348) and is 23rd in MLB play with 27 home runs. It has a collective .225 batting average, and is 25th in MLB with 255 total hits and 28th in MLB action scoring 119 runs.
• Thompson has thrown four innings without giving up an earned run on two hits, while striking out four against the Pirates this season.

Pirates Starter JT Brubaker

• Brubaker (0-3) will take to the mound for the Pirates and make his eighth start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last start was on Thursday, when he tossed five innings while giving up two earned runs on four hits in a matchup with the Cincinnati Reds.
• The 28-year-old has an ERA of 5.34, a 2.062 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.385 in seven games this season.
• In seven starts this season, Brubaker has not yet earned a quality start.
• Brubaker has three starts in a row of five innings or more.
• The Cubs rank 13th in MLB with a .236 batting average this season. They have a team slugging percentage that ranks 18th in the league (.366) and 26 home runs.
• The right-hander has faced the Cubs one time this season, allowing them to go 3-for-12 with a double and an RBI in three innings.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Cubs have been favored seven times and won three of those games.
• Chicago has entered five games this season favored by -140 or more and is 2-3 in those contests.
• The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 58.3% chance of a victory for the Cubs.
• Chicago and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 16 of their 34 opportunities.
• The Cubs are 19-15-0 against the spread in their 34 chances this season.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have been chosen as underdogs in 27 games this year and have walked away with the win 11 times (40.7%) in those games.
• Pittsburgh has a win-loss record of 7-14 when favored by +120 or worse by sportsbooks this year.
• The Pirates have an implied victory probability of 45.5% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.
• Contests with Pittsburgh have gone over the total set by bookmakers in 15 of 35 chances this season.
• The Pirates are 17-18-0 against the spread in their 35 games that had a posted line this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• The Cubs best hitter so far this season is Willson Contreras, who’s hitting at a team-leading .283 rate along with five homers and 14 RBI.
• Contreras is 46th in homers and 105th in RBI among all hitters in the majors.
• Ian Happ has five doubles, two home runs and 21 walks while batting .282.
• Happ is 161st in homers and 69th in RBI among all major league hitters this year.
• Seiya Suzuki is batting .255 with eight doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 walks.
• Suzuki has at least one base hit in five straight games. In his last five games he is hitting .313 with two doubles, a walk and an RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom has shown off his power as he paces his team with six home runs and 17 runs batted in.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Ben Gamel has recorded a team-leading 15 runs batted in.
• Gamel’s home run total places him 104th in the big leagues, and he ranks 85th in RBI.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes is hitting .293 to lead the lineup.
• Hayes ranks 312th among all hitters in the big leagues in homers, and 187th in RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach has six home runs, best in the lineup.
• Bryan Reynolds has three doubles, a triple, four home runs and 16 walks while batting .202.

Betting Tips for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our best bet is the Pirates on the moneyline at +120 after analyzing all of the key trends and statistics for this matchup. Our computer projects the total score will over the total of 7 runs.