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Cubs vs Pirates Predictions, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks, June 20
NL Central Foes Fighting to Stay Out of Cellar
Pirates, Cubs Clash
There isn’t much to be excited about as of late for fans of the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates. Both teams are terribly underperforming and are on the very outside of the playoff picture.
In their last 10 games, both teams are 2-8. Their hopes and goals might just be to stay above the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds.
Let’s check the latest MLB picks, stats, injury reports and MLB odds for Cubs vs. Pirates.. We’ve plenty of MLB predictions.
Cubs Win Weekend Series
If last week was any indication for the Chicago Cubs, most would not have bet that they would have taken two of three games from the surging Atlanta Braves. They broke the Braves’ winning streak on Friday and carried that energy into Saturday before dropping Sunday’s finale. It was a bit of a bright spot in an otherwise bleak season.
The Cubs have not been on the winning side of things much, a big change after over a half-decade of competing annually. But this is a much younger and inexperienced roster.
The Cubs will have a good shot at competing with the Pirates as both teams are on the same level. When it comes to performance, the Cubs are out-hitting the Pirates by a long shot, but the pitching is pretty even.
This series might come down to who can hit the ball better.
Pirates Focused on Developing Young Talent
The Pittsburgh Pirates have really shifted their focus to cultivating their young, upcoming talent. With very few veteran players on the roster, the young players are trying to figure out how to win.
On Father’s Day, the Pirates figured it out with a walk-off win on a three-home run by rookie outfielder Jack Suwinski. It was an exciting way to win and one that Suwinski will never forget with his dad in attendance.
The Pirates continue to call up their young talent from the minor leagues. And while that means that they will struggle to find their footing, they will be better for it in the long run if they can continue to develop. This is important for a small-market team like the Pirates, who do not spend big money on free agents and rely on home-grown talent.
Developmentally, the Pirates have struggled while showing that they are one of the worst teams offensively and on the mound in the MLB.
Cubs vs Pirates Head-to-Head
The Cubs and Pirates are nine games into their 19-game season series in 2022. The Pirates lead the season series 5-4.
Early in the season, the teams split the two games played at PNC Park. But there is no advantage given to either team based on how poorly the teams have played as of late.
Cubs vs Pirates Game Information
- Game: Cubs (25-41) vs Pirates (26-39)
- Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
- Day/Time: Monday, 7:05 p.m. ET
- Cubs vs Pirates Live Stream: MLB.tv
Cubs vs Pirates Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Chicago Cubs
C. Kilian -R |
-1½ +160 | -102 | 8-115o | 3½-140o
3½+110u |
| Pittsburgh Pirates
J. Brubaker -R |
+1½ -190 | -108 | 8-105u | 3½-130o
3½Evu |
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Cubs vs Pirates Prediction
The sportsbooks are playing this one close, with the Pirates at -108 for the moneyline. Outside of that, the MLB lines don’t offer a ton of good options for betting.
The most interesting option to take into account will be the Cubs against the runline. They have +160 odds to beat the runline and hold a 33-33 record against it. This will provide the most bang for your buck.
When you bet online, take the Cubs to cover the runline at +160.
