NL Central rivals meet for a classic Friday matinee at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, as the Cubs (81-66) host the Pittsburgh Pirates (74-73) to open the day’s MLB slate. It’s the start of a three-game series with the season series tied at five games apiece.
The Cubs enter Friday holding the second Wild Card spot in the National League but have lost four consecutive games, allowing other teams to gain some ground as the regular season nears its end. The Pirates, meanwhile, are making a late push to reach the playoffs, having won four straight games and nine of their last 11 as they sit 4.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot.
All-Star right-hander Braxton Ashcraft was originally scheduled to start for the Pirates Friday afternoon, but those plans have changed as he was placed on the 15-day injured list with right arm discomfort. Instead, Pittsburgh will turn to rookie right-hander Wilber Dotel, who will be making his 18th appearance of the season but first career MLB start. Dotel does, however, have experience pitching multiple innings out of the bullpen as well as plenty of experience as a starter in the minor leagues. The Cubs will counter with left-hander Shota Imanaga, who is 9-10 with a 3.91 ERA across 28 starts and will look to build off his six innings of three-hit, one-run baseball against Miami on Sept. 4.
Looking for Pirates vs. Cubs predictions and picks? We’ve got you covered for Friday afternoon’s series opener at Wrigley Field.
Pirates vs. Cubs Odds
The Cubs are listed as home favorites at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook for Friday’s NL Central matinee at Wrigley Field:
Pirates vs. Cubs Predictions
Our Pirates vs. Cubs prediction below can be found in the Stats Hub at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook, where baseball betting insights and trends are offered daily to help make more informed wagers:
Cubs vs. Pirates Best Bet: Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 0.5 Runs (-135)
Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a terrific season and one that will likely land him the National League MVP Award. The Cubs’ center fielder is hitting for a high average, getting on base, stealing bases, and, oh, by the way, is among the league leaders in both home runs and RBIs.
This prop is all about Crow-Armstrong scoring a run in Friday afternoon’s ballgame. With the way he’s been playing, it’s hard to go against that, especially since his 110 runs scored this season are the most in MLB.
It also helps that Crow-Armstrong has hitters behind him in the lineup who are more than capable of driving him in when he gets on base. Seiya Suzuki has 30 doubles, 24 home runs, and 80 RBIs this season, while Alex Bregman has 29 doubles, one triple, 24 home runs, 82 RBIs, and is batting .290 so far in September.
There’s also the strong possibility that Crow-Armstrong takes matters into his own hands and drives himself in, as his 41 home runs are the second-most in the majors behind only Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber.
- Cubs vs. Pirates Player Prop Pick for Sept. 11: Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 0.5 Runs (-135)
Top 5 Most-Bet Player Props for PIT-CHC
As you would expect, Crow-Armstrong is the popular target in the player prop markets for Friday’s series opener against the Pirates:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong – Over 0.5 Home Runs
- Pete Crow-Armstrong – Over 0.5 Hits
- Nico Hoerner – Over 0.5 Hits
- Alex Bregman – Over 0.5 Hits
- Seiya Suzuki – Over 0.5 Hits
Pirates vs. Cubs Game Info
- đź“Ť Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- đź“… Date: Friday, Sept. 11
- ⏰ First Pitch: 2:20 PM ET
- đź“şđź’» TV/Streaming: MLB.TV
- âšľ Probable Pitchers:
- Pirates: Wilber Dotel
- Cubs: Shota Imanaga
More Ways to Bet
One swing can cash your ticket, but until then, Florida players can keep things interesting with Real Money Games powered by Past Motor Racing, only on Hard Rock Bet. It’s another way to stay engaged between plate appearances.
Referenced odds are subject to change.
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