Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates 6/23/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

NL Central Division rivals will clash on Thursday afternoon, when the Chicago Cubs take on the Pittsburgh Pirates from PNC Park. The Cubs (26-43) are five games below .500 on the road and sitting in a distant fourth place. Last night, Chicago 1B Alfonso Rivas hit a grand slam during a 14-5 road triumph against Pittsburgh.

Twenty-six year old southpaw Justin Steele (2-5 4.27 ERA) will head to the hill for the Cubs in this contest. Last time out, Steele allowed two runs in five innings during a 6-3 home victory versus Atlanta.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have dropped 20 of their first 36 home games and are ten games back of the division leaders. On Wednesday, Pittsburgh batters were limited to five hits and struck out 11 times. SS Diego Castillo hit a solo shot in a losing effort for the Prates, who fell to 28-40 on the season.

Thirty-three year old lefty Jose Quintana (1-4 3.66 ERA) has pitched better than his record would indicate. Through 64 innings, Quintana has given up just seven long balls and owns a respectable 1.33 WHIP.