This is going to be so much fun. The National League side of the 2015 MLB postseason finally kicks off tonight with the Pittsburgh Pirates locking horns with the Chicago Cubs in a mouth-watering NL Wild Card Game.
Despite having the second- and third-best records in all of baseball (combining for 195 wins this season), the two teams are forced to meet in a do-or-die game that will decide once and for all who will meet NL Central champions St. Louis in the NL Division Series.
Who will emerge victorious in this make-or-break showdown? Read on below for an in-depth breakdown of this NL Wild Card game and while you’re at it, you can check out our World Series odds update here.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
When: Wednesday, October 7, 8:05 PM ET
Line: Chicago Cubs (-134) at Pittsburgh Pirates (+124); total: 5.5 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: TBS
Betting on the Chicago Cubs
Starting for the Cubs in this all-important ballgame is Cy Young candidate Jake Arrieta (22-6, 1.77 ERA). The 29-year-old has been on a tear post trade deadline, recording a 0.41 ERA and a .136 batting average against over his last 88.1 innings. The Cubs have benefited greatly from Arrieta’s excellent form, going 13-0 in his last 13 starts.
[sc:MLB240banner ]He will fancy his chances of extending that winning run later tonight as he has fared extremely well against the Pirates this season. In five starts against the Bucs this year, Arrieta has posted a 0.75 ERA through 36 innings. The Cubs went 4-1 against Pittsburgh in those five outings. Arrieta will also take comfort in the fact that he has performed well on his travels this year. He’s 13-1 with a 1.60 ERA on the road this season.
Expected to lead the Cubs offense tonight against the Bucs is the sizzling Anthony Rizzo. He led the Cubs in homers (31), hits (163), RBIs (101) and on-base percentage (.387) this season. He is 7-for-22 in his last six games with a homer and six RBIs. Rizzo has seen success against Cole in the past, going 6-of-17 against the right-hander with a walk and four RBIs.
The Cubs are 3-0 in their last three road games against the Pirates.
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Betting on the Pittsburgh Pirates
On the mound for Pittsburgh in this crucial clash is Gerrit Cole. The Pirates’ young right-hander has earned his ace status in his second full MLB season, going 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA. Cole is 40-20 in his career, winning more games since his debut than every National League pitcher but Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Madison Bumgarner.
Cole has been in excellent form of late, going 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in his last four starts against the Cubs (twice), Dodgers and Cardinals. He yielded just 25 baserunners in 27.1 innings during that four-game span. That will serve Cole in good stead ahead of what undoubtedly is the biggest game of his life.
Cole will fancy his chances in the NL Wild Card game as he has fared extremely well against the Cubs in his career. He has an impressive 7-1 record in nine starts against Chicago, including going 2-1 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts against them this year. The Pirates have gone 3-1 against the Cubs this season in games started by Cole.
Cole can’t do it all alone, though, and he needs the Pittsburgh hitters to pick up the scoring slack as well. The onus is on center fielder Andrew McCutchen to carry the load for the Bucs offense tonight. He holds an impressive .348/.444/.435 stat line against Arrieta in his career. He is 8-for-23 lifetime against the Cubs ace with a homer and three walks.
The Pirates are 3-2 in their last five home games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Cubs (-134) edge past the Pirates, 4-2.
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