Pirates vs. Cubs Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 6/21/2022

The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to pick up their 28th win of the season when they take on the Chicago Cubs (25-42) Tuesday. The game begins at 7:05 PM ET, with the Pirates listed as -150 favorites on the moneyline. Pittsburgh’s Roansy Contreras gets the start, and he’ll go against Chicago’s Matt Swarmer.

Pirates vs. Cubs Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Pirates vs. Cubs

Our computer pick: Chicago Cubs (+130) and Over (8.5)

Pirates vs. Cubs Game Info

• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Roansy Contreras
• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Matt Swarmer
• Game Day: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: PNC Park

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Pitching Matchup

Pirates Starter Roansy Contreras

• The Pirates will send Contreras (1-1) to the mound to make his sixth start of the season. He is 1-1 with a 3.06 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings pitched.
• In his most recent appearance on Wednesday, the righty threw 4 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, giving up three earned runs while surrendering six hits.
• In eight games this season, the 22-year-old has put up an ERA of 3.06, with 9.7 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .240 against him.
• Contreras has not recorded a quality start so far this season.
• Contreras will try to pick up his fourth matchup of five or more innings pitched this season. He averages 4.0 innings per appearance.
• The opposing Cubs offense has the 16th-ranked slugging percentage (.388) and ranks 17th in MLB play with 65 home runs. It has a collective .242 batting average, and is 14th in MLB with 549 total hits and 23rd in MLB action scoring 276 runs.

Cubs Starter Matt Swarmer

• The Cubs will send Swarmer (1-2) to the mound for his fifth start this season.
• The right-hander gave up four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings pitched on Thursday in his last outing, a matchup with the San Diego Padres.
• The 28-year-old has pitched in four games this season with an ERA of 5.23, a 2.375 strikeout to walk ratio and a WHIP of 1.258.
• In four starts this season, he’s earned a quality start in two of them.
• Swarmer has three starts of five or more innings this season in four chances. He averages 5.1 innings per outing.
• The Pirates are batting .221 this season, 28th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .358 (28th in the league) with 61 home runs.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• This season, the Pirates have won eight out of the 14 games, or 57.1%, in which they’ve been favored.
• Pittsburgh has played as a favorite of -150 or more once this season and won that game.
• The moneyline for this contest implies a 60% chance of a victory for the Pirates.
• Pittsburgh and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 27 of their 66 opportunities.
• The Pirates are 29-37-0 against the spread this season.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have been victorious in 18, or 37.5%, of the 48 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• This season, Chicago has come away with a win nine times in 22 chances when named as an underdog of at least +130 or longer on the moneyline.
• The Cubs have an implied victory probability of 43.5% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Chicago’s games have gone over the total in 34 of their 67 opportunities.
• The Cubs have posted a record of 33-34-0 against the spread this season.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bryan Reynolds has gone yard 11 times this season, the highest mark on the Pirates, while hitting .253 with 21 RBI.
• Among all MLB hitters, Reynolds ranks 78th in batting average, 70th in on-base percentage, and 50th in slugging.
• Reynolds brings a hitting streak of two games into this game. During his last five outings he is hitting .278 with a triple, a home run, two walks and two RBI.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes’ 22 runs batted in and .265 batting average both pace his team.
• Of all major league hitters, Hayes is 276th in homers and 151st in RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach has six doubles, a triple, eight home runs and 20 walks while hitting .217.
• Jack Suwinski has shown off his power as he paces his team with 11 home runs.
• Suwinski has recorded at least one hit in four games in a row. During his last five outings he is batting .429 with a double, three home runs, three walks and three RBI.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Willson Contreras has swatted a team- leading 12 home runs.
• Among all hitters in the big leagues, Willson Contreras is 32nd in home runs and 108th in RBI.
• Ian Happ is hitting .290 to lead the lineup.
• Among all major league hitters, Happ is 89th in home runs and 63rd in RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom has 12 home runs, best in the lineup.
• Nico Hoerner has five doubles, three triples, three home runs and six walks while hitting .275.

Betting Tips for Pirates vs. Cubs

We have the Cubs on the moneyline at +130 on the moneyline as our best bet in this game after looking at all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer picks see the scoring going over the total of 8.5 runs.