Chicago Vs Pittsburgh MLB Free Picks

If history has taught us anything in baseball, it’s that no division lead is safe this early in the season. There are a number of divisions that look to be done and dusted right now, but this is a game were major highs or lows can hit at any time. The NL Central division is the perfect example, as it looked for the longest tie as though the Chicago Cubs were going to walk away with the crown quite easily. They have slid into a rough patch, though, right at the same time that the Pittsburgh Pirates have hit a rich vein of form. The lead is the division is still 8.5 games in the favor of the Cubs, but the Pirates can carve into that this weekend when they welcome Chicago to PNC Park for a 3-game series. We will have all the live odds as they happen for this series, but let’s get things rolling by taking a look at the Friday match-up.

Chicago Cubs Vs Pittsburgh Pirates MLB Free Picks

When: Friday, July 8 at 7:05 PM EST Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh Starting Pitchers: Jake Arrieta Vs Francisco Liriano TV: MLBN and CSN Radio: KDKA-FM 93.7 and Radio 670 The Score MLB Odds: TBA    

Why bet on the Chicago Cubs

There are no two ways about it, the Cubs (52-32) are in a funk. Chicago has gone just 4-6 in the last 10 games, mostly due to the fact that their pitching has been pretty awful over the past couple of weeks. There are plenty of reasons to believe that this is temporary, though, and it all begins by looking at the stats and seeing that this pitching staff still has the best combined ERA in the league. They are also tops in scoring, and you just get the sense that the pace they have been setting has caught up to them a little. I expect that they’ll come back strong in the second half. Jake Arrieta (12-3, 2.33 ERA) will be on the mound for the Cubs.

Why bet on the Pittsburgh Pirates

The first half of the season has certainly not gone how the Pirates (44-41) would have hoped or expected, but there are signs that they are beginning to turn things around. They are coming into this series on a 7-game winning streak, and jumped over the Cardinals to take second spot in the division. They will have a chance to complete a 4-game sweep of St. Louis on Thursday, and will then try to really put some pressure on the Cubs by taking this series. The problem here is that the Pirates are just 1-8 versus the Cubs so far this season. Francisco Liriano (5-8, 5.34 ERA) will get the start for the Pirates on Friday night.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

It’s tough to know how the bookies are going to set up the betting odds for this series given how both teams are playing right now. Regardless of those odds, this is a pitching match-up that I think falls in the favor of the Cubs. I like them to get this series off to a winning start.

Chicago Cubs 5 Pittsburgh Pirates 3