Pittsburgh Pirates @ Chicago Cubs - September 3, 2024

Alright, folks! It’s game day, and I couldn’t be more pumped! The Pittsburgh Pirates are rolling into Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs, and let me tell you, this is going to be one heck of a matchup. You can feel the electricity in the air as two rivals clash on that hallowed diamond.

Let’s start with the Pirates – they’ve been a scrappy bunch this season with a record of 64-73. Their ace for tonight’s game has been phenomenal—an 8-2 record with an impressive ERA hovering around 2.2. That’s some ace-level stuff right there! But here’s the kicker: they’ve stumbled lately, going just 2-5 in their last seven games. They’ll need to shake off that rust if they want any hope against the Cubs.

Now onto our lovable losers—the Cubs! They’ve got a record of 71-67 and have shown some resilience lately with a solid run, winning six out of their last seven games. Yes, I know; their starting pitcher has had it rough this season with only three wins and ten losses (yikes!), but we all know that when it comes to baseball, anything can happen. It’s about time Kyle Hendricks finds his groove because we need him firing on all cylinders tonight!

The sportsbooks have opened up with Pittsburgh slightly favored at -103 against our boys in blue. And considering how both teams have been racking up runs lately—over in five of Pittsburgh’s last seven games and over in six of Chicago’s—it seems like bettors are feeling confident too.

Looking at batting stats per game shows us how evenly matched these two offenses really are! The Pirates have averaged around 4.2 runs per game while the Cubs sit just ahead at 4.5 runs per contest. Both teams’ batting averages are pretty much neck-and-neck, coming in just above .230—that’s not great by any means but hey, it’s baseball!

So what do I expect from this showdown? Given Skenes’ exceptional numbers versus Hendricks’ struggles on the mound this year, I’m leaning towards our boys taking home a win tonight! Let’s face it; Wrigley will be rocking as we cheer them on—and let’s not forget my lucky jersey that’ll definitely help push those good vibes toward another victory.

As for total runs scored? I’d bet the under on that one based on both pitchers’ capabilities to keep things tight throughout the game despite recent trends showing overs hitting often.

In conclusion: My prediction? The Cubs pull off a win tonight against those pesky Pirates—embrace those blue colors because we’re about to witness some classic baseball action! And remember: never underestimate the heart of a team playing at home under those bright lights—let’s go Cubs!