Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/1/2021 MLB Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, April 1, 2021

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee Sports Network

Odds/Point Spread: Pittsburgh (+191) Chicago (-209)

Wrigley Field is the site where Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs (34-26, 1st in NL Central last year) will play the Pittsburgh Pirates (19-41, 5th in NL Central last season) on Thursday. The Cubs open this matchup at -209 while the Pirates are coming in at +191. The over/under is set at 8.5. The pitchers taking the mound are Chad Kuhl and Kyle Hendricks.

Pittsburgh had a slugging rate of .357 and struck out 521 times last year, while taking a walk on 167 occasions. They accrued 210 RBI's as well as 425 hits for the previous season, and their team batting average was at .220. The Pirates tallied 76 doubles as a unit and hit 59 baseballs out of the park. They accumulated 219 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .284. As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates earned 3.7 runs per game, which had them at 30th in the league.

The Pirates held a team ERA of 4.68 in the prior season (19th in MLB), and their staff struck out 536 hitters. They had a K/BB ratio of 2.15 and the pitching staff held a collective WHIP of 1.36. Pirates pitchers conceded 80 long balls and also 298 runs in total (12th in the league). They walked 249 opposing batters and their FIP was 4.80 as a team over the course of last season. The Pirates relievers had a save rate of 31.6% and entered the game in 43 save situations. The bullpen inherited 104 base runners for the previous season and 34.6% of them earned a run for their team. Pirates relief pitchers entered the game with opponents on base in 64 games in addition to 64 games with high leverage. The Pirates had dispatched 210 relief pitchers to the hill last year. The bullpen notched 22 holds for the prior year (24th in the league). They accumulated 6 saves for the previous season and missed out on 13 of their 19 chances to get a save.

Chad Kuhl allowed 35 hits in 46.1 innings in which he pitched last season. His earned run average sat at 4.27 and he fanned 44 opposing batters. He gave up 22 ER's over the course of last season with a K/BB ratio of 1.6. He surrendered 6.8 H/9 (hits per 9 innings) and he had a WHIP of 1.36. Kuhl had a FIP of 5.48 and an ERA+ of 107. Kuhl (20-23 career record) holds a FIP of 4.45 while he has faced 1,551 opposing hitters in the major leagues. He has allowed 356 base knocks (8.9 hits per 9 innings) with 153 walks. His ERA is 4.36 (174 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.417. Kuhl has taken the mound for 359 frames and has 320 K's in his MLB career.

Chicago knocked in 74 HRs last season in addition to 248 RBIs. They hit 82 two-baggers, while walking 229 times as well as putting up 265 runs. The Chicago Cubs held an on-base percentage of .318 as well as a batting average of .220 last season. The Cubs held a team SLG% of .387 and they were recording 4.42 runs per outing (20th in MLB). They struck out on 568 occasions (5th in baseball) and accounted for 422 hits.

The Cubs held a team WHIP of 1.222 in addition to having a FIP of 4.18 as a staff last season. Their strikeout to walk ratio was 2.87 (523 strikeouts vs 182 walks). They ranked 22nd in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 451. They gave up 74 home runs and they allowed 4.17 runs per 9 innings (6th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff allowed 240 runs last year while holding a team ERA of 4.00 (230 earned runs yielded). Chicago relief pitchers had an inherited score percentage of 38.0% out of their 90 inherited base runners. Their bullpen pitchers stepped onto the mound in 48 games with high leverage and 54 games with runners on base. With 21 chances for a save, the Cubs had 26 holds in addition to 5 blown saves. They were ranked 4th in baseball holding a save rate of 76.2%, and they dispatched 188 relief pitchers to the mound last year. Chicago had bullpen pitchers step onto the mound in 47 save situations and they walked away with 16 saves.

Hendricks allowed 73 hits while conceding 26 earned runs (2.88 ERA). His WHIP was 1.00 and he held a FIP of 3.55 last season. He took the ball for 81.1 innings last year while allowing 8.1 H/9 (hits per 9 innings). Hendricks had a K/BB ratio of 8.0 with 64 total K's and he was the owner of an ERA+ of 149. During his career, Hendricks has given up 931 base hits and he has 882 strikeouts in 1,047 innings pitched. He has surrendered a total of 363 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.105 and a FIP of 3.5. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.90 and he has gone up against 4,232 hitters in his MLB career. Hendricks (69-48 career mark) has earned a 3.12 ERA and has surrendered 8.0 hits per 9 innings.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+191)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here