Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Predictions August 26th 2024

Pirates, Cubs hope for big hits in series opener

Chicago and Pittsburgh are set to face off in an NL Central matchup at 6:40 PM ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA. The Cubs are 65-66 this season, while the Pirates come into the game with a record of 62-68. Mitch Keller is starting for the Pirates, and the Cubs are countering with Jameson Taillon.

The money line odds have the Cubs at -107 compared to the Pirates at -112, and the over/under line is at 8.5 runs. SN PT will be televising this one, and the forecasted temperature is 89 degrees with scattered clouds.

Chicago vs. Pittsburgh Key Information

• Teams: Cubs at Pirates
• Where: PNC Park Pittsburgh
• Date: Monday, August 26th
• Betting Odds PIT -112 | CHC -107 O/U 8.5

The Cubs Can Win If…

Right-hander Jameson Taillon gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces his former team, the Pirates. He comes into the game with a record of 8-8 and an ERA of 3.77. Taillon has made 22 starts this year and has pitched well on the road, coming in with a record of 3-4 and an ERA of 4.97. In his last outing, he took the loss, giving up four earned runs in five innings of work. Before that, he had given up at least four earned runs in three straight outings. Taillon’s ERA for the month of August is 5.79.

For the season, the Cubs are averaging 4.3 runs per game, which is 16th in the league. This includes averaging 4.4 runs per game on the road and 4.1 runs per game at home. As a team, they are batting just .236 and are 16th in the league in home runs. However, they have been good at drawing walks and have the 11th best on-base percentage in the league.

Seiya Suzuki and Isaac Paredes are both tied for 2nd on the team with 18 homers, while Ian Happ leads the team with 72 RBIs and is 12th in the league with 23 homers. Suzuki comes into the game on a five-game hitting streak, batting .400 over that stretch, while Miguel Amaya has gone 8/13 in his last four games.

• The Cubs are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Cubs are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Chicago has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Cubs have an average of 6.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Cubs are 5-5
• Looking back across the Cubs last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Chicago has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Cubs have averaged 5.8 runs per game on offense

The Pirates Can Win If…

Mitch Keller has made 25 starts this season and has a record of 11-7 with a 3.76 ERA. He has pitched well at home, coming in with a record of 5-2 and an ERA of 2.83. Keller’s last outing came against the Rangers, where he picked up the win, going seven innings and not giving up a run. Before that, he had lost three straight starts. Keller’s ERA for the season is 5.36 on the road. This year, he has one complete game and 13 quality starts. Per nine innings, Keller is averaging 8.13 strikeouts and 2.43 walks.

So far this season, the Pirates are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which is 23rd in the league. Their team batting average of .234 is also 18th in the league. As a team, the Pirates are also near the bottom of the league in home runs and OPS. Currently, they are averaging 9 strikeouts per game, which is the 24th worst in the MLB.

Bryan Reynolds has been the Pirates’ top run producer this season, as he leads the team with 71 RBIs and is also first on the team with 19 homers. His batting average of .279 is also 2nd on the team. Oneil Cruz and Bryan De La Cruz have also been solid power threats for the Pirates, as they both have 18 homers this season. In his last three games, Yasmani Grandal has gone 4/12 with two homers.

• The Pirates are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Pirates are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Pittsburgh has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
• The Pirates have an average of 3.8 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Pirates are 1-9
• Looking back across the Pirates last five games as the favorite, they are 3-2
• Pittsburgh has gone 2-1 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Pirates have averaged 2.5 runs per game on offense

The Lean

For an over/under pick, our lean is on the over, as this is projected to be the 5th highest-scoring game of today’s slate. As for a straight-up pick, we are leaning towards the Pirates to come out on top. Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller has the highest innings pitched projection in the league today and is 4th in our projections in strikeouts among today’s starters.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs are set to kick off a three-game series, with both teams eyeing vital victories. As the Pirates grapple with injury concerns, the Cubs look to bounce back from a tough loss. Here’s what to watch for in this pivotal matchup.

Joey Bart’s Impact and Injury Concerns

Joey Bart has been a standout for the Pittsburgh Pirates since being acquired from the San Francisco Giants earlier this season. Batting .272 across 63 games, Bart has consistently contributed to the Pirates’ offense. However, Pittsburgh may face a significant setback with Bart’s availability in question. He exited Sunday’s 4-3 win against the Cincinnati Reds with left hamstring discomfort, raising doubts about his participation in the series opener against the Cubs.

Bart’s absence would be a blow to the Pirates. Manager Derek Shelton acknowledged Bart’s crucial role, noting, “Him, Bryan [Reynolds], and Oneil [Cruz] have been the catalysts when we go offensively.” The Pirates will need to adjust quickly if Bart is unable to play.

Yasmani Grandal Steps Up

Fortunately for the Pirates, veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal has been in excellent form recently. Grandal, who started behind the plate on Sunday, delivered a clutch two-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning to secure the victory. This was his third homer in the past five games, contributing to a strong August where he’s hitting .297—his best month of the season.

Shelton praised Grandal’s contributions, especially in light of Bart’s injury. “He’s very important to us and he’s been very important to us all year,” Shelton said. Despite earlier struggles, Grandal’s experience and intelligence make him a reliable option as the Pirates look to stay competitive.

Pirates’ Playoff Hopes on the Line

The Pirates have won four of their past six games, yet they remain eight games back of the final National League wild card spot. With six teams ahead of them, their playoff hopes are slim, but the team isn’t giving up. Grandal emphasized the importance of remaining optimistic, stating, “We still have September, and I’ve seen a lot of things happen in September. You’ve just got to keep believing.”

Pittsburgh’s chances may be fading, but the team is determined to finish the season strong, making this series against the Cubs critical.

Mitch Keller Takes the Mound

Mitch Keller (11-7, 3.76 ERA) will start for the Pirates in the series opener. Keller has a mixed history against the Cubs, holding a 5-4 record with a 4.78 ERA over 12 career appearances (11 starts). His performance will be crucial as the Pirates seek to set the tone early in the series.

Cubs Seek to Rebound After Offensive Struggles

The Chicago Cubs arrive in Pittsburgh needing a bounce-back win after a 7-2 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday, their third loss in the past nine games. The Cubs have been inconsistent offensively, scoring two runs or fewer in each of those losses but totaling 42 runs in their six recent wins.

Manager Craig Counsell was candid about the team’s struggles in their last game, noting, “We had a bad day offensively. We didn’t do much. They just kind of beat us with the fastball and just didn’t have a good day with our offense at all.”

Despite the setback, the Cubs have won three consecutive series, keeping them within 5.5 games of the final National League wild card spot. Consistent offensive production will be key if they hope to stay in the playoff race.

Jameson Taillon Faces Former Team

Jameson Taillon (8-8, 3.77 ERA) will start for the Cubs, looking to improve his record against his former team. Taillon has struggled against the Pirates in the past, with a 1-2 record and a 6.19 ERA in three career starts. However, a strong outing in this crucial series could help the Cubs gain ground in the wild card chase.

Series Stakes

Both teams have much to play for as they enter this series. The Pirates are fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, while the Cubs are looking to close the gap in the wild card race. Key performances from players like Grandal and Taillon could make all the difference as the series unfolds.

This series opener sets the stage for what promises to be a hard-fought battle between two teams with everything on the line.

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