We were on Chicago's runline in the series opener Friday, and it cashed when the Cubs snuck out a 3-2 win in extra innings. Pittsburgh has been on the wrong end since, an 11-0 loss last night that put this series on the brink of a sweep. Own that up front: Chicago is the better team by record this year, and that gap is real. But the matchup on the mound today breaks the other way. Braxton Ashcraft has been through a rough four-start stretch, yet he's still an All-Star with swing-and-miss stuff and a full season of starts behind him. Jameson Taillon is working with neither. He just returned from six weeks on the injured list with a hamstring strain, and his first start back against Detroit produced four earned runs in barely four innings, exactly what a pitcher still building up arm strength looks like. My mathematical model favors Pittsburgh here, and sharp money is already leaning the same way. A home favorite in game three after dropping the first two of a series is a spot that's paid off before, and I like Pittsburgh to be the latest example. Pittsburgh is the play in the finale.
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Pirates vs. Cubs Betting Picks
Get Pirates vs. Cubs betting picks, expert betting analysis, computer model picks, betting consensus data, matchup breakdowns, key betting angles, and the latest odds insights for today's Pirates vs. Cubs game.
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 80% of the public money was on Chicago Cubs to win on the moneyline. And, 95% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 3.4 to 3.2 with Chicago winning on the moneyline, Pittsburgh winning on the runline and the game going UNDER the total.
Final Score
MLB Pro Pick Results
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Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 75% of the public money was on Chicago Cubs to win on the moneyline. And, 93% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Pittsburgh would win by a score of 4.3 to 3.5 with Pittsburgh winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going UNDER the total.
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 84% of the public money was on Chicago Cubs to win on the moneyline. And, 74% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 5.1 to 2.7 with Chicago winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going UNDER the total.
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 66% of the public money was on Pittsburgh Pirates to win on the moneyline. And, 66% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 5.1 to 3.3 with Chicago winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going UNDER the total.
Pro Picks
MLB
Chicago at Pittsburgh
1:35 PM Eastern
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 66% of the public money was on Pittsburgh Pirates to win on the moneyline. And, 66% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 4.0 to 3.9 with Chicago winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
Final Score
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