Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs: In-Depth Game Preview

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00:00Next game up on the docket, a 2-20 start from Chicago.

00:03That's the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs.

00:05Keller going up against Ray today.

00:07If we look at the line, 7.5 is the opening number on the total.

00:11It's dropped to 7.

00:12Why? We're in Chicago.

00:13That tells you right there.

00:14The wind isn't blowing out, and the temperatures aren't really necessarily that hot or conducive to hitting.

00:19The total in the game, as we said, dropped.

00:22The side here, however, minus 155 overnight.

00:24Almost identical to a lot of outlets.

00:25A high of 165, maybe a low of minus 150.

00:28So, Ray getting some ammunition here, but I'm not so sure that's the right thing to do today, Tom, with Colin Ray.

00:36I think you're teasing something a little bit later for a dog of the day, potentially.

00:43So, when it comes to Mitch Keller, he's a good pitcher.

00:46He's certainly not a bad pitcher.

00:48You see an 18% strike rate.

00:50I'm like, okay, that's bad.

00:515.7% walk rate, 0.66 home runs per nine.

00:54He has a 386 XFIP.

00:55What's more important is he has a 45.6% ground ball rate and a 54.8% medium contact rate, which means he only allows a 28.7% hard contact rate.

01:07So, when it comes to Keller, he may be a boring pitcher, but he's not going to be piling up his strikeouts.

01:12But he also doesn't get burned.

01:14He doesn't allow fly balls.

01:15He doesn't allow hard contact.

01:16He's not going to get hit around too hard.

01:19And when we look at the total, it's 7.5, drop, you know, 8, 7.5, whatever it might be.

01:22If there's a pitcher that can neutralize the offense, this is the type of pitcher to do so.

01:28And then, thus, it puts the Pirates in a good spot to win the game.

01:32Colin Ray, he's okay.

01:33Like, I think he's a fine pitcher overall.

01:35The strikeouts are dropping.

01:36The home runs are an issue.

01:38I think I would rather pass on this game than dive into, like, one or two specific players.

01:43Obviously, PCA is phenomenal.

01:45It is a lefty-lefty matchup.

01:46Same thing with Kyle Tucker.

01:47So, I would probably say pass on this or the under.