Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/13/2022

Time: 12:35 p.m. ET

Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

DraftKings: Cubs -125, Pirates +105

BetMGM: Cubs -130, Pirates +110

Caesars: Cubs -130, Pirates +110

Cubs: 3-1

Pirates: 1-3

Let me tell you about the tale of a man named Seiya.

Seiya was an enthusiastic man. He loved to play baseball. Every time he hit said ball, it would go far. Legend has it that in Japan, Seiya would literally say “see ya” when he would hit the ball, because it would go far and long.

Seiya would say “see ya” to Japan and find a new home in Chicago, where he would also hit baseballs hard and far and give the baseball team in Chicago an opportunity of hope after a rough season in 2021. So of course, the legend of Seiya Suzuki has grown with the Chicago Cubs and things haven’t looked so fun in quite a few years.

The Cubs improved to 3-1 on the season with a 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. The Cubs scored two runs and won, thanks to two homers from the aforementioned Suzuki and his legendary bat that has already become a folk tale in Chicago.

Through four games, Suzuki is already batting .417, has hit three homers and driven in eight RBI. He’s already become a menace at the plate and has given the Cubs that superstar bat to give fans some hope after the Cubs traded Kris Bryant and others last year.

"I'm just trying to stay aggressive and trying to make the pitcher throw more pitches," Suzuki said through a translator. "Obviously I'm getting lucky, and I just want to continue to contribute like this."

Drew Smyly picked up his first win with the Cubs after signing with them last month. He pitched five scoreless innings as he continues to work his way back through Tommy John surgery from a few years ago.

"Everything works out for a reason, everyone has a different path," Smyly said. "I've been very lucky in my career, and I feel very fortunate to be back here and pitching for the Cubs. It felt good to go out there, pitch well and help the team win a game."

The Cubs took the road less traveled after being complete sellers last season, but there is reason to be optimistic. Marcus Stroman is a great arm now at the top of that rotation, and Suzuki has been called upon to not necessarily to be the savior in Chicago, but to provide at least some sort of pop and run production they didn’t happen to get last season.

But realize that it could absolutely be worse for the Cubs. They could be the Pirates and have no direction whatsoever. They’re off to a 1-3 start after the loss Tuesday and couldn’t get any sort of production outside of Bryan Reynolds’ home run in the eighth inning. Jose Quintana threw five good innings and gave up only one run, that first homer to Suzuki, and struck out three.

"All day long, I thought he threw the ball well," Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. "If he goes out in the rest of his starts and throws the ball like that, we're going to be in pretty good shape."

Quintana does wish however that he had that one against Suzuki back.

"There was not too much information on him," Quintana said of Suzuki. "I tried to follow the plan, to throw the fastball close to him. I think when he hit the homer, the ball came back over the middle. He's tough."

I don’t expect Suzuki to do this kind of stuff again, but I would expect the Cubs to finish the job and secure their fourth win in five games. Kyle Hendricks will get the nod after a strong season-opening performance against the Milwaukee Brewers; he will take on Zach Thompson making his first start of the season. I expect Hendricks to shut down this lineup and the offense to produce more than two runs. Cubs win 6-2

Cubs are 37-24 (+0.5 net games on ML) as a favorite between -125 and -175 the past three seasons.

Cubs are 49-62 on the road in the past three seasons.

Cubs are 14-3 (+10.2 net games on ML) when Hendricks starts and the money line is between -100 and -150 the past three seasons.

Cubs:
Clint Frazier (R) DH
Willson Contreras (R) C
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Frank Schwindel (R) 1B
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Nick Madrigal (R) 2B
Michael Hermosillo (R) CF
Ian Happ (S) LF
Nico Hoerner (R) SS

Pirates:
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Michael Chavis (R) DH
Yoshi Tsutsugo (L) 1B
Diego Castillo (R) 2B
Kevin Newman (R) SS
Jake Marisnick (R) LF
Roberto Perez (R) C
Cole Tucker (S) RF

CHC: Kyle Hendricks
PIT: Zach Thompson 

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .700

Hits: Ian Happ -- 7

Home runs: Seiya Suzuki -- 3

RBI: Seiya Suzuki -- 8

Wins: Three tied -- 1

Saves: David Robertson -- 2

ERA: Two tied -- 0.00 (1 win each)

Batting average: Diego Castillo -- .385

Hits: Three tied -- 5

Home runs: Two tied -- 1

RBI: Michael Chavis

Wins: Miguel Yajure -- 1

Saves: N/A

ERA: Jose Quintana -- 1.69