Posted at 12:30 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle -1½ +110  BET365 -1½ +110 Sportsinteraction -1½ +110 888Sport -1½ +110

Chicago -1½ +110 over Pittsburgh

7:05 PM EST. The Pirates and Dodgers worked out a trade back on June 25th that sent right-hander Andre Jackson to Pittsburgh. At that time, Jackson had been optioned to Triple-A. The Dodgers received cash considerations in return. Point being, Jackson was acquired for virtually nothing.

While Jackson had a 2.11 ERA over 21 innings in 2021-22, things haven’t gone as smoothly this year, as Jackson had a 5.28 ERA in 31 frames of work. The long ball has been Jackson’s biggest nemesis. After giving up just one home run in 2021-22, he has already allowed seven homers this season. It isn’t exactly a new problem for him either as he has trouble keeping the ball in the park over his three seasons at Triple-A (in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League).

Between the homers and an inflated 14.77% walk rate, Jackson has a 5.21 ERA in 129.2 career innings at the Triple-A level, with a 22.07% strikeout rate. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2017 draft out of the University of Utah. He played primary outfield and missed his entire junior season due to Tommy John surgery. Since he did not pitch much in college, he is still learning how to control his arsenal and he’s probably not ready to be put into the rotation but the Pirates have nothing to lose. After 6+ seasons, the Dodgers bailed on him and got nothing in return. That’s telling.

Justin Steele (LHP - CHC) has struck out 14 batters without issuing a walk over his last two starts (11 IP). Since the break, Pittsburgh owns a .633 OPS, .100 ISO against southpaws. The ultra-consistent Steele has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since May 25. Steele just keeps delivering without walking anyone. Cubs figure to score runs while the Pirates do not.

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