Cubs vs Pirates Picks and Prediction – 8/28/2024

The Wednesday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates from PNC Park. Be ready for the baseball season with all of our MLB predictions. The Cubs (67-66) have won eight of their last 11 games and are five games back in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot. Last night, Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson each homered to power Chicago to a 9-5 road triumph against Pittsburgh. 

Thirty-four year old righty Kyle Hendricks (3-10 6.33 ERA) will take the mound for the Cubs in this matchup. Chicago has won three of Hendricks’ last four starts and he has allowed ten runs (9 ER) over his last 20 plus innings. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates are three games below .500 at home and are stuck in the NL Central Division basement. During Tuesday's home loss, DH Oneil Cruz went 4-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs. Rookie SP Jared Jones (5-7) gave up five runs in four innings and took the loss for the Pirates, who lost their 70th game of the year. 

Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes (8-2 2.16 ERA) will make his 18th career major league start for the Pirates. Last time out, Skenes fanned nine batters across six shutout frames during a 7-0 home victory versus Cincinnati. 

Pittsburgh C Joey Bart has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Through 133 games, Chicago ranks 15th in OPS and 15th in runs scored. For the season, Pittsburgh ranks 27th in OPS and 23rd in runs scored. Take the under. Final Score Prediction, Pittsburgh Pirates win 4-1.