The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates face off at PNC Park on Tuesday night.
This is the second contest of a three-game series with the Cubs winning 8-0 yesterday after sweeping the Pirates at Wrigley Field last week. Marcus Stroman was on the hill for the Cubs last Thursday while Johan Oviedo started for the Buccos and both pitchers will duel again today.
MLB odds opened with the Cubs as -135 road favorites with the Over/Under at 8 for this clash between NL Central rivals. Here are my best free Cubs vs. Pirates MLB picks and predictions for June 20.
Cubs vs Pirates odds
Cubs vs Pirates predictions
Marcus Stroman hasn't been named to the All-Star team since 2019 but if he continues his strong play, he'll be a cinch for the midsummer classic this year. The 32-year-old is putting up career-best numbers in ERA (2.45), WHIP (1.04), and OBA (.191) through 15 starts this season.
Stroman is poised for another strong start against a Pittsburgh Pirates lineup that's been struggling. They're 20th in the majors in OPS (.693) in June while plating just 3.69 runs per game.
The Over/Under for Stroman's earned runs today is set at 2.5, a number he's gone below in 13 of 15 starts this season, including his last six in a row. That includes last Thursday when he scattered four hits and allowed a pair of runs in six innings against this very lineup.
While the Under is priced as low as -159 at some books, it's available at -120 at bet365. That's tremendous value given how well he's been throwing and how cold the Buccos' bats have gone.
My best bet: Marcus Stroman Under 2.5 earned runs (-120)
Cubs vs Pirates same-game parlay
Marcus Stroman Under 2.5 earned runs (-120)
Andrew McCutchen Under 1.5 total bases (-190)
Christopher Morel Over 0.5 hits (-150)
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is in the midst of a slump, hitting .194 while slugging just .278 in his last 12 games. He's also gone just 3-15 at the dish against Stroman in his career and will be hard-pressed to go Over 1.5 total bases tonight.
Cubs sophomore Christopher Morel has been raking lately. Over the last 10 days, he's picked up a hit in seven of nine games while batting .364 over that span. He had three hits against the Pirates last Thursday, including a single and a triple off Oviedo.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Cubs vs Pirates moneyline and Over/Under analysis
The Pirates were one of the biggest surprises earlier in the year, starting the season off 20-8. They've since fallen three games below .500 and have dropped seven games in a row.
Four of those losses have come to the Cubs who are now 9-1 in the last 10 meetings between these NL Central rivals. The Cubbies are 6-1 in their last seven contests and are just half a game behind the Buccos in the division standings while trailing first-place Cincinnati by 3.5 games.
The Cubs closed as -142 home favorites when these teams clashed with the same starters last Thursday. Chicago took that contest 7-2, cashing the Over that was set at just 6.5.
Today, the total is set at 8 with a slight breeze blowing towards the infield at pitcher-friendly PNC Park.
Both teams have struggled at the plate this month with the Pirates 20th in the majors in OPS (.693) and the Cubs 27th (.653). The Cubs will also be without Patrick Wisdom (club-leading 14 home runs) after he was placed on the 10-day IL last Saturday due to a wrist injury.
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Trend to know
The Cubs are 5-0 in the last five meetings between these teams. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Pirates
Cubs vs Pirates game info
| Location: | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Date: | Tuesday, June 20, 2023 |
| First pitch: | 7:05 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh |
Starting pitchers
Marcus Stroman (8-4, 2.45 ERA): The diminutive Stroman is the last of a dying breed: a ground ball pitcher. He leads the majors in ground outs to air outs ratio (4.2) and ranks in the Top 10th percentile in barrel rate. The Pirates have been making solid hard contact but rank 18th in the majors in barrel rate.
Johan Oviedo (3-6, 4.40 ERA): Oviedo surrendered eight hits and four runs before getting the hook midway through the fifth inning against the Cubs last week. He did fan eight batters in that outing and had been pitching well of late. Over his last seven starts, he's pitched to a 3.26 ERA with a 3.85 FIP and an OBA of .215. The 25-year-old relies primarily on his slider and fastball but while his four-seamer averages an impressive 96.3 mph, his poor command has led to opponents slugging .526 against it.
