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One of the more storied venues in baseball takes center stage on Tuesday afternoon. The Chicago Cubs host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field in a contest between rivals. The NL Central foes clash to wrap up a two-game series in Chicago. The Cubs are on a five-game winning streak, including a 3-2 win in Monday's opener.

First pitch is at 2:20 p.m. ET in Chicago. Caesars Sportsbook lists Chicago as a -190 favorite (risk $190 to win $100) on the money line, while the over-under, or total number of runs Vegas thinks will be scored, is 8.5 in the latest Pirates vs. Cubs odds. Before you make any Cubs vs. Pirates picks, be sure to check out the latest MLB predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, and it is 284-243 on top-rated MLB money-line picks since the start of the 2021 season, returning over $400 for $100 players. This is the same model that pegged the 2021 Atlanta Braves at 10-1 as one of three best bets to win it all last season. Anybody who has followed it has seen profitable returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Pirates vs. Cubs, and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model's MLB picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Cubs vs. Pirates:

  • Pirates vs. Cubs money line: Cubs -190, Pirates +158
  • Pirates vs. Cubs over-under: 8.5 runs
  • Pirates vs. Cubs run line: Cubs -1.5 (+105)
  • PIT: The Pirates are 19-23 in day games
  • CHI: The Cubs are 18-19 in day games
  • Pirates vs. Cubs picks: See picks at SportsLine.

Why you should back the Pirates

The Pirates are playing improved baseball, hanging around the .500 mark since the end of June. On offense, Pittsburgh leans on team speed, posting a top-five mark in the National League in triples. The Pirates should also put together a reasonable run prevention unit on Tuesday. 

Pittsburgh's bullpen has notable strengths, and starter Bryse Wilson has a 2.81 ERA in July. He has walked only 2.9 batters per nine innings in 2022, with much better overall numbers on the road than at home. Pittsburgh should also benefit from a notable weakness of the Chicago offense, with the Cubs landing in the bottom tier of the NL in strikeout avoidance.

Why you should back the Cubs

Chicago's offense is miles better than Pittsburgh's offense. The Pirates are dead-last in the National League in runs scored, hits, doubles, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, with Pittsburgh also posting bottom-five marks in walks and strikeout avoidance. In contrast, the Cubs have six regulars with an OPS over .750 this season, and four of those players exceed an .800 OPS mark. 

Chicago ranks in the top five in triples, stolen bases, and on-base percentage, and the Cubs are above the NL average in hits, doubles, walks, and batting average. Chicago should also benefit from a starting pitching edge, with Cubs starter Keegan Thompson posting a 3.43 ERA this season and Wilson owning a 6.52 ERA. In fact, Wilson also has a 1.65 WHIP, with opponents posting an .896 OPS against him in 2022.

How to make Pirates vs. Cubs picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 8.8 combined runs. It also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can only get the model's MLB picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Cubs vs. Pirates? And which side has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.