Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates
Jeff Samardzija vs A.J. Burnett
The Cubs will struggle to put up runs this year, this game, and although Pittsburgh has looked like they’re close for two years in a row, they don’t appear to meshing yet this year. Jeff Samardzija looks ready. The former wideout brings his nasty splitter to the yard and had started to introduce a cutter last year that has carried over to the spring while posting a 3-0 record and 1.16 ERA in 6 starts. He was 2-0 and had a 1.06 last year against the Pirates and looks poised to replicate that again today with a squad still looking for that clutch hit with runners on base. For Pittsburgh, AJ Burnett makes his 1st opening day start in 15 years and was also solid against the opposition in posting 2-1 record and a 1.40 ERA, 18K-5BB ratio in 5 starts. Both pitchers will keep their teams in this one and we expect a low scoring affair today. Pittsburgh’s bullpen is very good and should be able to clean up the day when AJ departs. The Cubs shaky pen should get lucky as Samardzija goes deep and turns it over to more quality arms later on. Take the UNDER 7(projected).
Jeff Samardzija vs A.J. Burnett
The Cubs will struggle to put up runs this year, this game, and although Pittsburgh has looked like they’re close for two years in a row, they don’t appear to meshing yet this year. Jeff Samardzija looks ready. The former wideout brings his nasty splitter to the yard and had started to introduce a cutter last year that has carried over to the spring while posting a 3-0 record and 1.16 ERA in 6 starts. He was 2-0 and had a 1.06 last year against the Pirates and looks poised to replicate that again today with a squad still looking for that clutch hit with runners on base. For Pittsburgh, AJ Burnett makes his 1st opening day start in 15 years and was also solid against the opposition in posting 2-1 record and a 1.40 ERA, 18K-5BB ratio in 5 starts. Both pitchers will keep their teams in this one and we expect a low scoring affair today. Pittsburgh’s bullpen is very good and should be able to clean up the day when AJ departs. The Cubs shaky pen should get lucky as Samardzija goes deep and turns it over to more quality arms later on. Take the UNDER 7(projected).
