After starring for years in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball in his native Japan, Seiya Suzuki elected to bring his talents to the United States, signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Chicago Cubs in March. Less than one week into the 2022 MLB season, the 27-year-old outfielder is proving to be worth the investment. Suzuki and the Cubs wrap up a two-game series when they visit the National League Central-rival Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon. Suzuki looks to homer in his third consecutive game when he faces Pittsburgh’s Zach Thompson, who finally makes his team debut after inclement weather forced his scheduled start at St. Louis on Monday to be postponed. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks is making the start for the Cubs.
First pitch from PNC Park is set for 12:35 p.m. ET. Chicago is a -130 favorite (risk $130 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Cubs vs. Pirates odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total runs scored is 8.5. Before making any Pirates vs. Cubs picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, entered Week 2 of the 2022 MLB season on a 216-181 roll on top-rated MLB money-line picks that dates back to last season, returning over $900 for $100 players. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has dialed in on Cubs vs. Pirates and revealed its predictions and best bets. You can visit SportsLine now to see its MLB picks. Here are the MLB odds and betting trends for Pirates vs. Cubs:
- Cubs vs. Pirates money line: Chicago -130, Pittsburgh +110
- Cubs vs. Pirates over-under: 8.5 runs
- Cubs vs. Pirates run line: Chicago -1.5
- CHC: C Yan Gomes is 2-for-2 lifetime against Thompson
- PIT: Current Pirates are hitting a combined .153 versus Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks
Featured Game | Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Why you should back the Cubs
Suzuki, who hit a career-high 38 home runs and won the Central League batting title with a .317 average for Hiroshima last year, has hit safely in each of his first four games with Chicago. He entered the series with a home run, six RBI, four walks and two runs scored and went deep two more times in Tuesday’s series opener. Ian Happ also has gotten off to a good start at the plate for the Cubs, going 5-for-7 in his first three games before notching a pair of hits on Tuesday.
Hendricks deserved a better fate against Milwaukee on Opening Day as he settled for a no-decision after giving up just one run and registering seven strikeouts in 5 ⅓ innings. The 32-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.69 ERA despite going 7-10 in 24 career starts versus the Pirates. Hendricks lost his first two turns against Pittsburgh last year but recorded a win and two no-decisions in the final three meetings and allowed two runs with five strikeouts over five frames at PNC Park in his last start of 2021.
Why you should back the Pirates
Thompson will be eager to prove he belongs in Pittsburgh’s starting rotation after being acquired from Miami during the offseason in a four-player deal. The 28-year-old right-hander appeared in 26 games and made 14 starts as a rookie with the Marlins last year, going 3-7 despite posting a solid 3.24 ERA. Thompson started against the Cubs twice, taking the loss at Chicago on June 20 after giving up just an unearned run over four hitless innings and yielding one run over six frames in a no-decision on Aug. 14.
Ke’Bryan Hayes is regarded as one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, and the Pirates are expecting big things at the plate from him as well. The 25-year-old, whose eight-year, $70 million contract extension became official on Tuesday, got off to a good start in Pittsburgh’s first series of 2022 at St. Louis. Hayes exited the season opener in the first inning with a forearm issue but went 4-for-9 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored over the next two contests and recorded one of the Pirates’ six hits in Tuesday’s loss to Chicago.
How to make Cubs vs. Pirates picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning Over on the total, as the simulations have the teams combining for 9.8 runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model’s Pirates vs. Cubs pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Pirates vs. Cubs? And which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Cubs vs. Pirates money line to jump on, all from the advanced model that has returned over $900 on top-rated MLB money-line picks dating back to last season, and find out.
