Pirates vs. Cubs Prediction, Betting Tips & Picks 6/22/2022

The Pittsburgh Pirates (28-39) will vie for their fourth straight victory when they host the Chicago Cubs (25-43) on Wednesday at 7:05 PM ET. The Pirates are listed as -116 favorites by bookmakers, while the Cubs are -103 underdogs. Jerad Eickhoff will get the ball for Pittsburgh while Chicago counter with Keegan Thompson.

Pirates vs. Cubs Spread and Betting Line

Computer Predictions for Pirates vs. Cubs

Our computer pick: Chicago Cubs (-103) and Over (9)

Pirates vs. Cubs Game Info

• Pittsburgh Pirates probable starting pitcher: Jerad Eickhoff
• Chicago Cubs probable starting pitcher: Keegan Thompson
• Game Day: Wednesday, June 22, 2022
• Game Time: 7:05 PM ET
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Stadium: PNC Park

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Pitching Matchup

Pirates Starter Jerad Eickhoff

• Eickhoff starts for the first time this season for the Pirates.
• It’s the season debut and his first appearance in more than a year for the 31-year-old righty.
• The Cubs have scored 277 runs this season (24th in MLB) and are batting .242 collectively with 66 home runs (17th in the league).

Cubs Starter Keegan Thompson

• Thompson (6-2) will take to the mound for the Cubs and make his eighth start of the season.
• The right-hander’s last appearance was on Friday, when he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves while allowing two hits.
• The 27-year-old has an ERA of 3.27 and 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings with an opponent batting average of .230 in 15 games this season.
• In seven starts this season, he’s earned one quality start.
• Thompson has four starts of five or more innings this season in seven chances. He averages 3.2 innings per outing.
• The Pirates are batting .221 this season, 28th in MLB. They have a team slugging percentage of .361 (28th in the league) with 63 home runs.
• The right-hander has faced the Pirates two times this season, allowing them to go 6-for-29 with a double and a triple in nine innings.

Pirates Betting Picks & Insights

• The Pirates have entered the game as favorites 15 times this season and won nine, or 60%, of those games.
• This season, Pittsburgh has won eight of its 14 games, or 57.1%, when favored by at least -116 on the moneyline.
• The implied probability of a win from the Pirates, based on the moneyline, is 53.7%.
• Pittsburgh and its opponents have hit the over in 27 of their 67 games with a total this season.
• In 67 games with a spread this season, the Pirates are 30-37-0 ATS.

Cubs Betting Picks & Insights

• The Cubs have been victorious in 18, or 36.7%, of the 49 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
• Chicago has a mark of 16-28 in contests where oddsmakers favor them by -103 or worse on the moneyline.
• The Cubs have an implied victory probability of 50.7% according to the moneyline set for this matchup.
• Chicago and their opponents have hit the over in 34 of their 68 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
• The Cubs have posted a record of 33-35-0 against the spread this season.

Pirates Leaders & Batting Stats

• Bryan Reynolds has gone yard 11 times in the 2022 campaign while driving in 22 runs, both totals that lead the Pirates.
• In all of the majors, Reynolds is 42nd in homers and 154th in RBI.
• Reynolds brings a hitting streak of three games into this game. During his last five outings he is hitting .222 with two walks and an RBI.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes has a club-leading 22 runs batted in and .265 batting average.
• Of all major league hitters, Hayes ranks 279th in home runs and 154th in RBI.
• Daniel Vogelbach has racked up a team-high 22 runs batted in.
• Vogelbach has at least one base hit in two games in a row. During his last five outings he is batting .357 with two doubles, a home run, four walks and five RBI.
• Jack Suwinski has shown his power as he leads his team with 11 home runs.

Cubs Leaders & Batting Stats

• Ian Happ leads the team in batting average with a high-water mark of .289.
• Among all hitters in MLB, Happ’s home run total is 93rd and his RBI tally ranks 66th.
• Happ takes a hitting streak of four games into this game. In his last five games he is batting .375 with two doubles, two walks and an RBI.
• Willson Contreras is batting .275 with 13 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs and 26 walks.
• Among all major league hitters, Contreras is 37th in home runs and 111th in RBI.
• Patrick Wisdom has 13 home runs, tops in the clubhouse.
• Nico Hoerner is batting .271 with five doubles, three triples, three home runs and six walks.

Betting Tips for Pirates vs. Cubs

Our best bet is the Cubs on the moneyline at -103 after analyzing all of the key stats and trends for this matchup. Our computer projects the scoring will over the total of 9 runs.