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Posted at 12:00 PM EST.

2:20 PM EST. Mike Montgomery (LHP) has filled in admirably for the injured Yu Darvish in his two starts since the Japanese star hit the disabled list, but he's not quite been as impressive as it might look on paper. Montgomery's xERA is higher than is actual ERA and he's striking out batters at a far fewer rate this season over last. The 29-year-old has just 24 Ks in 37 frames which gives him a strikeout rate of 5.84 K’s/9. The Cubbies are baseball royalty in the market and are often the only game on the board on a Friday afternoon, as is tradition because of a Chicago city ordinance that prohibits games from being played under the lights because of the impact it would have on local businesses in the area. Sure it's silly, but when there is just one game going at a time, it often gets more attention than if it were played in the middle of a full slate. The point is, you're going to pay a premium to back a well-known commodity like the Cubs regardless, but when they are the only game in town, that price is even more inflated. Montgomery takes the mound against a Pittsburgh offense that is sixth in the majors with a .782 OPS vs. LHP.

Chad Kuhl doesn't quite have the same pedigree as his former first-round rotation mates Jameson Taillon and Joe Musgrove, but he's every bit as good as those other two and he's proved it by pitching his way into the majors in 2016 just three years after getting drafted in the ninth round. How many times have we seen top flight picks take years to develop before getting a crack at the bigs or never make it at all? Kuhl is just 25-years-old and is entirely under the market's radar because he's been unable to post a victory in his last six starts despite pitching really, really well. Through 67.2 innings, Kuhl has flamed 63 batters and issued just 25 free passes. Those numbers have his strikeout rate up from his first two seasons to a career-high, while his walk rate is down over 2017. He's posted five quality starts in his last six trips to the bump including three straight but has not been able to pick up a victory. That includes a no-decision against the Cardinals last time out in a game he allowed just two runs and four hits while striking out five over six frames. That was the sixth straight start he's flamed at least five batters. Over those six starts, Kuhl has allowed one run or fewer but has just one W in his pocket to show for it. He and the Pirates are simply too live to be taking back prices like this against a fill-in starter for the host.

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