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The National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs (69-50) begin a key divisional series against the Pittsburgh Pirates (61-60) on Thursday in what is listed as a pick'em matchup at sportsbooks. The Pirates will be trying to break a three-game losing streak to stay in the playoff race at home Brett Anderson Jersey , where they have a 33-29 record this season. MLB betting line: The Cubs opened as -114 favorites (wager $114 to win $100); the total is at 8.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. Line updates and matchup report.MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 6.8-4.0, Pirates.MLB picks on every game.Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week's top sports betting news.Why the Cubs Can Pay on the MLB LinesThe Cubs avoided seeing the Milwaukee Brewers pull to within one game of the division lead Wednesday, when they beat them 8-4 at Wrigley Field to earn a split of their two-game set. Now they have to guard against a letdown after facing the Brewers and Washington Nationals in their past five games.This will be a good test for Chicago ace Jon Lester (12-5, 3.89 ERA), who has struggled since the MLB All-Star break. Lester is winless over his previous five starts, with his ERA rising more than a run from 2.58. Fortunately, he is 2-1 versus Pittsburgh in four outings this season and owns a better record on the road at 7-2 with a 3.48 ERA in 11 starts. That bodes well here. Why the Pirates Can pay on the MLB linesThe Pirates have won two of their past three meetings with the Cubs Blake Treinen Jersey , and they are 5-6 in the season series overall through the first 11, according to the OddsShark MLB Database. These teams still play four more times at Wrigley in late September, but now is the time for Pittsburgh to go on a positive run in an effort to snag one of the two NL wild-card spots.Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.42 ERA) will toe the rubber opposite Lester, and he has gone 3-0 in his past six outings, with the Pirates winning five times during that stretch. Nova is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Chicago this year, and he has performed better at home in 2018, with a 2-3 mark and 3.55 ERA in 10 games.Smart Betting PickThis is a huge game for Lester and the Cubs, who are attempting to win the NL Central for the third season in a row. Milwaukee and the St. Louis Cardinals are squaring off in a three-game series, starting Friday http://www.athleticsfanproshop.com/authentic-chris-hatcher-jersey , and both teams have a chance to catch Chicago down the stretch. The Cubs cannot afford to lose in this spot, so look for them to win.MLB Betting TrendsChicago is 4-2 in its past six games on the road.The total has gone under in six of Chicago's past eight games.Pittsburgh is 1-4 in its past five games. All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report's official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app. The Atlanta Braves added reinforcements to their bullpen as they continue to pursue a National League East title.On Sunday, the Baltimore Orioles announced they traded relief pitcher Brad Brach to Atlanta in exchange for international signing bonus slot money. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported Baltimore received $250,000 in international slot money in the trade.Rosenthal also added context to the move, noting it "further reinforced" a report from The Athletic鈥檚 Emily Waldon suggesting Baltimore had its eye on coveted international prospect Victor Victor Mesa.Brach, 32, has been something of an innings-eater in recent years for the Orioles, appearing in 62 contests in 2015 (79.1 innings), 71 contests in 2016 (79.0 innings) and 67 contests last year (68.0 innings).The right-hander has pitched 39 innings over 42 games this season and sports a 4.85 ERA Sean Manaea Jersey , 1.77 WHIP and 38 strikeouts. The ERA would mark his highest total in the statistic since he was a rookie pitcher for the San Diego Padres in 2011 and appeared in just nine games.According toZachary Silverof MLB.com, Brach is excited to be headed toward a contender but was still sad to leave Baltimore and its "incredible" fans.The Braves and their fans are hoping Brach resembles the 2015 and 2016 versions of himself down the stretch rather than the one who has struggled for much of this season. He posted a 2.72 and 2.05 ERA in those two years, respectively, and was part of a formidable Orioles team that reached the playoffs in 2016.Atlanta鈥檚 bullpen is a mere 19th in the league in ERA, perESPN.com, and could use a bounce-back effort from Brach.As for the Orioles鈥?interest in Mesa,Eduardo A. Encinaof theBaltimore Sunnoted "they have the international bonus slot availability to pursue a player such as Mesa, who could be seeking a signing bonus in the range of $3 million to $4 million, which would be an unprecedented international investment for the Orioles."This trade will give them even more financial resources to make a run at signing him.