On Wednesday, two National League Central rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates (64-73, 5th NL Central) and the Chicago Cubs (71-67, 2nd NL Central), will face off in their final series of the season. The series began on Monday, where the Pirates managed a comeback victory, winning 5-3 at Wrigley Field. The second game of the series took place on Tuesday night (Note: This article was published before Tuesday’s results). This year’s matchups have been competitive, with the Cubs holding a narrow 6-5 advantage in their season series. For this game, the Pirates are sending Bailey Falter (4.41 ERA) to the mound, while the Cubs will start Shota Imanaga (3.14 ERA). The game is scheduled to start at 7:40 PM EST in Chicago.
Expert Analysis for MLB Enthusiasts
Pirates Stage Dramatic Comeback
The Pittsburgh Pirates showcased their fighting spirit on Labor Day, rallying late to secure a win in the series opener. After trailing 3-0 entering the 8th inning, they scored four runs and added an insurance run in the 9th. Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen both hit home runs in the pivotal inning. Despite this victory, the Pirates are still struggling, sitting at the bottom of the NL Central and 10 games away from the final Wild Card spot in the National League.
Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton praised his team’s determination after the game, stating, “They continued to battle, they played hard. IKF has a ball fall in, Nick beats out an infield hit, and then, you know, Bryan does what Bryan does and then Cutch right behind him.” Reynolds, who belted a three-run homer, leads the team with 22 home runs and 77 RBIs. He is currently batting second as the left fielder and has recorded at least one hit in seven of his last eight games. McCutchen, who typically bats leadoff, took the cleanup spot and has now accumulated 18 home runs and 45 RBIs this season while holding a .238 batting average. Oneil Cruz, batting third, has also been a key player with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs.
Bailey Falter will make his 24th start of the season for the Pirates. The 27-year-old left-hander holds a 6-7 record, with the team going 2-3 in his last five starts. He has a 4.41 ERA, accumulating 81 strikeouts against 34 walks while allowing 14 home runs this year. Falter’s last outing saw him pitch just four innings, where he surrendered four runs to the Guardians in a loss.
Cubs Seek Redemption After Recent Loss
The Chicago Cubs entered the first game of this series riding a six-game winning streak but faced defeat on Monday. Their impressive streak included a sweep against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, followed by another sweep against the Nationals in Washington. Currently, the Cubs sit in 2nd place in the NL Central but remain 10 games behind the Brewers. Nevertheless, their recent performance has kept them in the Wild Card race, as they are just 3.5 games out of the last playoff spot. In the loss to the Pirates, Dansby Swanson contributed a home run but failed to maintain the lead.
Swanson, the team’s shortstop, recorded his 13th home run of the season, now boasting 55 RBIs and a batting average of .236 while hitting seventh in the lineup on Monday. The Cubs received a stellar performance from pitcher Jameson Taillon, who delivered seven scoreless innings with only three hits allowed. Unfortunately, relief pitcher Jorge Lopez allowed two home runs in the 8th inning, which shifted the momentum. Manager Craig Counsell commented on Lopez’s outing, mentioning, “He made a couple of good pitches to the first two hitters, and they found some holes, then he left some fastballs just in the big part of the plate.” Ian Happ led the team with two RBIs from the leadoff position, currently holding 23 home runs and 79 RBIs this season.
Shota Imanaga will take the mound for his 26th start of the season, having been a consistent presence for the Cubs. The 31-year-old left-hander boasts an impressive 11-3 record, and the team has secured victories in his last two outings. With an ERA of 3.14, ranking 11th best in the league, he has recorded 148 strikeouts while allowing only 23 walks and 23 home runs this year. In his most recent start, Imanaga pitched six innings, yielding three runs in a tightly contested win over the Nationals.
Strategic Betting Insights for Pirates vs. Cubs
As the season progresses, teams have faced each other multiple times, providing valuable trends for betting. Both Imanaga and Falter have pitched against their respective opponents earlier this season, but Imanaga had a particularly dominant outing against the Pirates. In his previous matchup, he threw seven scoreless innings, striking out seven batters while limiting the Pirates to just four hits, resulting in a .160 batting average against him. Imanaga’s performance aligns with his impressive ERA, positioning him among the top pitchers in the league.
The Cubs have proven successful against the Pirates this season, sweeping them in their recent series. Additionally, four of the Cubs’ six victories over the Pirates have covered the run line. With Imanaga on the mound, the Cubs are positioned as strong favorites once again.
Bet on Chicago to cover the run line.
