Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 5/18/2022

The Chicago Cubs (15-20) will look to complete a series sweep as they take a 2-0 lead into their final matchup against the Pittsburgh Pirates (15-21) at 7:40 PM ET Wednesday from Wrigley Field. The Cubs are favored (-156) by oddsmakers. Chicago’s Drew Smyly gets the start, and he’ll go against Pittsburgh’s Mitch Keller.

Cubs vs. Pirates Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our computer pick: Pittsburgh Pirates (+134)

Cubs vs. Pirates Game Info

• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Drew Smyly
• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Mitch Keller
• Game Day: Wednesday, May 18, 2022
• Game Time: 7:40 PM ET
• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• Stadium: Wrigley Field

Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Pitching Matchup

Cubs Starter Drew Smyly

• Smyly (1-4 with a 3.64 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched) makes the start for the Cubs, his seventh of the season.
• The lefty last appeared on Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he threw six innings, allowing four earned runs while giving up 10 hits.
• The 32-year-old has put up an ERA of 3.64, with 6.4 strikeouts per nine innings, in six games this season. Opponents have a .283 batting average against him.
• So far this year, Smyly has not registered a quality start.
• Smyly has put together three starts this campaign in which he pitched five or more innings.
• He meets a Pirates offense that ranks 29th in the league with 119 runs while batting .223 as a squad. It has a collective .346 slugging percentage (26th in MLB action) and has hit a total of 27 home runs (25th in MLB).
• In 10 innings over two appearances against the Pirates this season, Smyly has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP while his opponents are hitting .231.

Pirates Starter Mitch Keller

• Keller (0-5) will take the mound for the Pirates, his eighth start of the season.
• The right-hander last pitched on Friday, when he gave up five earned runs and allowed five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds.
• The 26-year-old has an ERA of 6.61, a 2.167 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.531 in seven games this season.
• In seven starts this season, he’s earned one quality start.
• Keller has made two starts of five or more innings in seven chances this season, and averages 4.2 frames when he pitches.
• The Cubs have scored 146 runs this season, which ranks 18th in MLB. They are batting .235 for the campaign with 28 home runs, 23rd in the league.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have entered the game as favorites eight times this season and won four of those games.
• Chicago has a record of 2-2 when favored by -156 or more by sportsbooks this season.
• The Cubs have a 60.9% chance to win this game based on the implied probability of the moneyline.
• Chicago and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 16 of their 35 opportunities.
• In 35 games with a spread this season, the Cubs are 20-15-0 ATS.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have come away with 11 wins in the 28 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.
• This season, Pittsburgh has come away with a win six times in 20 chances when named as an underdog of at least +134 or worse on the moneyline.
• The Pirates have an implied victory probability of 42.7% according to the moneyline set by oddsmakers for this matchup.
• Pittsburgh and their opponents have gone over in 15 of their 36 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.
• The Pirates have posted a record of 17-19-0 against the spread this season.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras has seven doubles, a triple, five home runs and 15 walks while hitting .275.
• Among all batters in baseball, Contreras is 48th in home runs and 111th in RBI.
• Ian Happ has a club-high .280 batting average.
• Happ ranks 168th in homers and 73rd in RBI among all major league hitters this season.
• Happ has two straight games with at least one hit. In his last five games he is hitting .313 with a double, four walks and an RBI.
• Seiya Suzuki has sent home a team-high 18 runs batted in.
• Suzuki will look to build on his six-game hitting in this game. During his last 10 games he is batting .235 with three doubles, a triple, three walks and three RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom has hit six home runs to lead his team.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Ben Gamel has driven in the most runs for the Pirates with 15 runs batted in.
• Gamel’s home run total puts him 111th in MLB, and he is 91st in RBI.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes’ .293 batting average is a team-high mark.
• Among all MLB hitters, Hayes is 316th in homers and 199th in RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach has six home runs, best in the lineup.
• Michael Chavis is hitting .264 with four doubles, two triples, three home runs and four walks.

Betting Tips for Cubs vs. Pirates

Our best bet is the Pirates on the moneyline at +134 after taking a look at all of the key statistics and trends for this matchup.