The Chicago Cubs are in first place on the NL Central with a 31-22 overall and hold a 3.5-game advantage over the St. Louis Cardinals. Chicago is currently tied with Atlanta for the No. 2-seed in the NL Postseason standings. The Cubs will send Jon Lester to the mound in Game 1 of their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has made 10 starts this season and has posted a 2-2 record with a 4.91 ERA. In his last outing, he went five innings allowing just two runs against Cleveland. Over his last two starts, he has posted a 1.63 ERA. In his last outing against Pittsburgh, he allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 ⅓ innings.

The Pittsburgh Pirates will counter the Cubs and Lester by sending J.T. Brubaker to the mound. He has made nine appearances (seven starts) this season and has posted a 1-2 record with a 4.79 ERA. Brubaker has allowed more than three runs in a start just one time this season and he’s completed at least five frames in each of his last four starts. Brubaker has made two appearances (one start) against the Cubs this season allowing two runs (one earned) in eight innings of work. He is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA in those matchups.

Lester has looked good his last two outings but has been hit this season and has had stints where he has given up runs. Brubaker has been a nice pitcher for the Pirates but I think the Cubs offense is starting to come around and they can put up a few runs against the Pirates.

Play on the OVER.