Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates: Chicago aims to end home losing streak

Chicago Cubs face Pittsburgh Pirates in a high-stakes game as they battle for the top spot in the NL Central.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (21-25, third in the NL Central) will face off against the Chicago Cubs (25-21, second in the NL Central) in Chicago on Saturday at 2:20 p.m. EDT.

The pitching probables for the game are Bailey Falter (2-2, 4.15 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 27 strikeouts) for the Pirates and Shota Imanaga (5-0, 0.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 51 strikeouts) for the Cubs. The BetMGM Sportsbook line has the Cubs favored at -178, with the Pirates at +150, and the over/under set at 8 runs.

The Cubs will be looking to break their three-game home losing streak as they currently hold a 13-8 record at home and a 25-21 overall record. They have been dominant in games where they score five or more runs, with a 17-4 record in such games. On the other hand, the Pirates have a 21-25 overall record and are 12-13 on the road. They have also been successful when scoring five or more runs, boasting a 15-1 record in those games.

This will be the sixth meeting between the two teams this season, with the Pirates currently leading the season series 3-2.

Key players to watch include Christopher Morel for the Cubs, who has 14 extra base hits, and Connor Joe for the Pirates, who has six home runs, 14 walks, and 22 RBI while hitting .296. Both teams have had a rough patch in their last 10 games, with the Cubs going 4-6 and the Pirates also going 4-6.

In terms of injuries, the Cubs have several players on the IL including Colten Brewer, Keegan Thompson, and Nico Hoerner, while the Pirates have Ke'Bryan Hayes and Jason Delay on the IL.

Overall, this matchup between the Pirates and Cubs promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to secure a win and improve their standings in the NL Central.