Wrigley Field hosts an MLB battle between the Chicago Cubs and the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

AJ Burnett, with a record of 4-6 on the season, gets the ball for the Pirates, while the Cubs trot Carlos Villanueva to the mound in this one. He is 1-3 so far in 2013.



View Pittsburgh vs Chi Cubs Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
The Pirates were listed as 121 favorites on the baseball moneyline at many online sportsbooks, including Sportsbook. The total was set at 9.5 before betting started earlier on Monday over at Sportsbook.

Power Rankings:
The Cubs - Pirates odds would favor the Pirates if the lines were set according to our power ranks. Chicago is rated No. 7 in the current National League Odds Shark poll, while Pittsburgh is at No. 5 in the National League.



How They Match Up:
Scoring stats point to some edges in this matchup. The game features Chicago's National League No. 7-ranked scoring average of 4.1 runs per game, against a Pirates offense rated No. 11 and scoring 3.9 runs per game in the league. The Cubs have averaged 8.2 hits per game to date this season, almost the same as the Pirates hitters have managed (8.2 per nine innings).

Chicago owns the National League's No. 7 defense, allowing 4.2 men per game to cross the plate. That contrasts with Pittsburgh's National League No. 1-rated defense.

The Pirates were a 4-1 loser in their most recent outing on the road against the Cubs. That made winners of bettors who got Chicago at +105 on the moneyline, while the total score (5) was good news for UNDER bettors. The Pirates endured a 4-1 loss at the hands of the Cubs on Saturday, with Charlie Morton throwing 6 innings of 7-hit ball at Wrigley Field.




Pittsburgh Pirates Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 6-4
Before playing Oakland are 1-8
After playing Chi Cubs are 5-5
After a loss are 8-2

Chicago Cubs Trends:
When playing on Sunday are 4-6
Before playing Chi White Sox are 5-5
After playing Pittsburgh are 3-7
After a win are 3-7

A few Pirates at Cubs trends to consider:
Pittsburgh is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games on the road
Pittsburgh is 11-3 SU in its last 14 games
Pittsburgh is 6-2 SU in their last 8 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Pittsburgh's last 12 games when playing Chi Cubs
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Chi Cubs' last 12 games
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Chi Cubs' last 12 games when playing Pittsburgh
Chi Cubs are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Chi Cubs' last 6 games when playing at home against Pittsburgh


Next up:
Pittsburgh home to Oakland, Monday, July 8
Chi Cubs at Chi White Sox, Monday, July 8