The Chicago Cubs look to continue their strong play at PNC Park and complete a two-game sweep when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon. Chicago, which went 6-3 at Pittsburgh last season, opened the set Tuesday with a 2-1 victory behind a pair of solo home runs from Japanese sensation Seiya Suzuki. Drew Smyly threw five scoreless innings and combined with four relievers on a six-hitter as the Cubs improved to 3-1 on the season. Pittsburgh (1-3) avoided being shut out for the second time in four games this year when Bryan Reynolds belted a solo shot in the eighth inning.

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

Why you should back the Cubs

After hitting a career-high 38 home runs and hitting .317 to win the Central League batting title with Hiroshima last year, Suzuki agreed to a five-year, $85 million contract with Chicago in March. The 27-year-old right fielder has stormed out of the gate in his first season in the majors, going 5-for-12 with three homers and eight RBIs in his first four games. Suzuki, who also has drawn four walks and scored four times, has reached base at least twice while scoring and driving in a run in every game thus far in 2022.

Ian Happ also has gotten off to a good start at the plate for the Cubs, recording seven hits in 10 at-bats while registering four RBIs over three contests. Kyle Hendricks hopes his teammates continue to produce as he makes his second start of the season. The 32-year-old right-hander pitched well against Milwaukee on Opening Day, allowing one run and five hits with seven strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

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.