Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 5/27/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs (25-22, 2nd in NL Central) go to PNC Park on Thursday where they'll meet the Pittsburgh Pirates (18-29, 5th in NL Central).

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 4.6 runs per contest, which has them sitting at 12th in baseball. They have earned 217 runs while holding a team OBP of .322. The Cubs have accrued 68 doubles as a squad and have knocked 57 balls out of the stadium. They have earned 209 runs batted in and 368 hits for the season, while their average at the plate is at .238. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .405 and have been called out on strikes 452 times, while drawing a walk on 165 occasions.

Cubs pitchers have allowed 56 long balls and 200 total runs (11th in baseball). They have walked 176 opposing hitters and their FIP is 4.35 as a squad for the year. They have a K/BB ratio of 2.44 and their pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.34. The Cubs hold a team earned run average of 3.95 on the campaign (14th in baseball), and they have struck out 429 hitters.

The Cubs have dispatched 182 relievers to the mound over the course of the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 84 runners for the season with 27.4% of them crossed home plate. They have recorded 12 saves so far this year and have not converted 5 out of their 17 save opportunities. The Cubs relief pitchers have earned a save rate of 70.6% and has entered the game in 54 save situations. The relief pitchers have a total of 36 holds on the campaign (2nd in the league). Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 56 times and also have had 66 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Chicago Cubs have earned a total of 1,252 putouts on the year, in addition to 473 assists and 25 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .986 which has them ranked 5th in MLB, and they have turned 300 double plays. The Cubs have turned 69.2% of baseballs in play into outs in their 3,756 innings, which has them sitting at 17th in the majors.

Hendricks has pitched in 1,096 innings and has accounted for 924 strikeouts thus far in his career. His earned run average is 3.19 (389 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.122. He has surrendered 994 hits (8.2 hits per 9 innings) and has had 237 walks. Hendricks (73-52 mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 3.61 and he has gone up against 4,455 batters during his time in the majors.

The Pirates hold a slugging percentage of .341 and they are recording 3.34 runs per game (30th in MLB). They have recorded 75 two-baggers, while taking a walk 147 times and notching 157 runs. Pittsburgh is sitting with 30 home runs over the course of the season to go along with 148 RBIs. They have been called out on strikes on 406 occasions (22nd in the league) and have notched a total of 359 hits. The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned a team OBP of .302 and a team batting average of .229 for the year.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.337 and are the owners of a FIP of 4.45 as a squad on the year. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.49 (403 strikeouts against 162 free passes). They are sitting at 17th in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 382. They have allowed 61 home runs and they relinquish 5.22 runs per 9 innings (24th in MLB). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have conceded 236 runs for the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.89 (221 earned runs yielded).

With 29 save situations, the Pirates have tallied 20 holds in addition to 1 blown save. Pittsburgh has had bullpen pitchers enter the contest in 7 save chances and they have come away with 6 saves. Their relief pitchers have come in 40 times in high leverage situations and also on 37 occasions with runners on base. Pittsburgh relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 29.3% out of their 58 inherited runners. They are ranked 3rd in MLB with a save percentage of 85.7%, and they have sent 165 relievers to the mound so far this year.

In 3,663 innings played, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.4% (14th in the majors). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 39 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .984 (13th in professional baseball). The Pirates have racked up 426 assists, 27 errors and have a tally of 1,221 putouts this season.

Anderson (25-31 career win-loss record) has a 4.66 earned run average and has allowed 9.0 hits per nine innings. He has a K/BB ratio of 2.78 and he has gone up against 2,157 opposing hitters in his pro baseball career. He has given up a total of 263 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.329 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.4. During his career, Anderson has allowed 510 hits and he has 459 K's in 508 frames.

Who will win tonight's baseball game against the spread?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh

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