Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/16/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

The Chicago Cubs (24-19) will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (19-24) at Wrigley Field on Thursday. The expected starting pitchers will be Jared Jones and Justin Steele.

The Pirates have accumulated 61 two-baggers as a squad and have hit 39 balls out of the park. Pittsburgh is slugging .350 and have been called out on strikes 402 times, while taking a walk on 162 occasions. As a squad, the Pittsburgh Pirates are putting up 3.7 runs per outing, which is 26th in MLB. They have accrued 154 runs batted in and 323 hits so far this year, while their batting average comes in at .223. They have 161 runs scored while having a team OBP of .303.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.66 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.27. Pirates pitchers have conceded 47 home runs in addition to 187 runs in total (17th in baseball). Pittsburgh has surrendered 350 base knocks (8.2 per 9 innings) in addition to 166 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team ERA of 3.90 over the course of the season (14th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 362 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 136 hitters and their FIP comes in at 4.04 as a squad so far this year.

The Pirates have sent 134 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season. The relievers have inherited 66 runners on the year and 37.9% of those runners crossed the plate. They have accumulated 12 saves on the season and have not converted 10 of 22 save opportunities. The Pirates relief pitchers have earned a save percentage of 54.5% and stepped onto the hill in 44 save situations. The relief pitchers have notched 22 holds for the season (21st in the league). Pirates relief pitchers have come into the game with players on base 40 times in addition to having 57 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Pirates have converted 69.8% of baseballs in play into outs in their 3,450 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 18th in professional baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accumulated 1,150 putouts at this point in the season, in addition to 371 assists and 27 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .983 which is 23rd in the majors, and they have turned 33 double plays.

Jones has taken the hill for 47 innings and is sitting with 56 punch outs in his MLB career. His ERA is 2.68 (14 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 0.872. He has surrendered 34 base knocks (6.5 hits per nine innings) and has 7 walks. Jones (2-4 career record) holds a FIP of 3.47 while he has faced 181 hitters in the major leagues.

The Chicago Cubs have earned a team on-base percentage of .317 as well as a team batting average of .234 this year. They have been rung up on 375 occasions (11th in MLB) and have tallied 333 hits. Chicago has accounted for 44 HRs on the year as well as 182 runs batted in. The Cubs have a team SLG% of .383 and they score 4.53 runs per game (13th in the league). They have recorded 62 doubles, while taking a walk 160 times as well as racking up 195 runs.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.299 and have a FIP of 3.88 as a staff on the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 8.60 (365 strikeouts vs 145 walks). They are currently ranked 20th in MLB as a staff in total hits conceded with 350. They have allowed 41 home runs and they give up 4.39 runs per 9 innings (15th in MLB). The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 186 runs on the campaign while having an ERA of 3.75 (159 earned runs surrendered).

Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 21 save opportunities and they have converted 12 saves. They rank 20th in baseball with a save rate of 57.1%, and they have sent 138 relievers to the mound for the season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 57 times in high leverage situations and on 46 occasions with base runners. Chicago relievers have an inherited score rate of 34.8% of 66 inherited runners. With 45 save situations, the Cubs have accrued 23 holds in addition to 9 blown saves.

Out of their 3,435 innings played, the Cubs have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.5% (19th in baseball). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 24 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .982 (24th in pro baseball). The Cubs have recorded 357 assists, 27 errors and have accounted for 1,145 putouts this season.

Steele (24-16 career mark) has a 3.35 ERA and has conceded 8.4 hits per 9 innings. His K/BB ratio is 3.18 and he has gone up against 1,532 batters in his MLB career. He has given up 135 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.260 and a FIP of 3.6. In his career, Steele has conceded 340 base knocks and he has 372 punch outs in 362 frames.

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

Parlay's Pundit's Pick: Take Chicago

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