Tuesday MLB betting preview: Pirates at Phillies, Cubs at Mets

MLB free play: Over

Over bettors are poised to cash, as the Pirates commence a three-game series with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday night.

Drew Smyly (2-6, 6.99 ERA) will start for Philadelphia, and he owns a 7.45 ERA in four starts this month. His OPS against lefty batters this year (78 at-bats) is 1.266, which bodes well for Bucs third baseman Colin Moran (.300 average last seven games) and switch-hitting outfielder Bryan Reynolds (.360 average last seven games). The Over is 20-6-1 in the Pirates' last 27 games against a left-handed starter.

Steven Brault (3-3, 3.98 ERA) will take the hill for Pittsburgh, and his opponent batting average in nine appearances on the road (six starts) this year is .286, which is significantly higher than his .221 mark at PNC Park. Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper, who is batting .360 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in his last seven games, is set to return from paternity leave for this one and should lead the way on offense.

Chicago Cubs (69-61) at New York Mets (67-63), 7:10 p.m. ET

MLB free play: Cubs moneyline first five innings (-115)

Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.43 ERA) and the Cubs appear to have a leg up on Marcus Stroman (7-11, 3.18 ERA) and the Mets at Citi Field on Tuesday—at least through the first five innings.

Darvish owns a 3.23 ERA and .205 opponent batting average in eight starts since the All-Star break. He has struck out 65 batters in that span and has walked just two. However, he'll hand things over to a bullpen that sports a 6.25 ERA over the last two weeks, 25th in baseball.

Stroman holds a woeful 1.780 WHIP through his first four starts as a Met. Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo owns a 1.167 OPS over his last 15 games and is showing no signs of slowing down. Look for him to strike early in this one.