The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs on July 25, 2026. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet PT.
The Pirates are favored by -132 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Cubs are +112 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Cubs vs Pirates prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Cubs vs Pirates Prediction
- Cubs vs Pirates Pick: Over 8
My Cubs vs Pirates best bet is on the over. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Cubs vs Pirates Odds
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -205 | 8 -102o / -120u | +112 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +168 | 8 -102o / -120u | -132 |
- Cubs vs Pirates moneyline: Cubs +112, Pirates -132
- Cubs vs Pirates over/under: 8 (-102o / -120u)
- Cubs vs Pirates spread: Cubs +1.5 (-205), Pirates -1.5 (+168)
Cubs vs Pirates Probable Pitchers
| Shota Imanaga (LHP, CHC) | Stat | Paul Skenes (RHP, PIT) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-8 | W-L | 9-8 |
| 1.2 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 3.5 |
| 3.91 / 3.74 | ERA / xERA | 3.43 / 2.76 |
| 4.50 / 3.93 | FIP / xFIP | 2.81 / 3.14 |
| 17.5% | K-BB% | 24.1% |
| 38.0% | GB% | 40.8% |
| .258 | BABIP | .293 |
| 93 | Stuff+ | 98 |
| 110 | Location+ | 109 |
Cubs vs Pirates MLB Betting Preview
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Cubs grinded out a tight 10-inning victory on Friday night, but they’ll face a much stiffer test against Pittsburgh's ace. Chicago sends left-hander Shota Imanaga to the mound on Saturday. While Imanaga has demonstrated flashes of brilliance throughout the campaign, his high-fly-ball tendencies can occasionally leave him vulnerable to multi-run home runs, particularly when hitters lock in during late afternoon starts.
Although Chicago's offense struggled to piece together big innings in Game 1, they enter this matchup with strong overall metrics during twilight windows. If the Cubs can pressure the Pirates' bullpen early or work deep into counts against Paul Skenes, their lineup has the depth to put up standard run production.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pirates hand the ball to Skenes as they look to even up the series. Skenes has been nothing short of electric, boasting elite strikeout numbers and high-velocity stuff that keeps opposing hitters off-balance.
However, even elite starting pitching can get compromised by subtle visual transitions during late afternoon starts. Behind Skenes sits a Pirates bullpen that has logged heavy innings over the past week, leaving potential late-game gaps for Chicago's lineup to exploit. Combined with Pittsburgh’s ability to put up runs at PNC Park, the stage is set for a higher-scoring environment than the pristine marquee pitching matchup suggests.
Cubs vs Pirates Pick, Betting Analysis
While the public instincts often lead bettors to hammer the under when two front-line starters like Imanaga and Skenes square off, Action Network’s Bet Labs model flags this exact matchup under the 'Twilight Totals' system.
Even with elite starting pitching featured on both sides, the Twilight Totals system highlights a structural setup that favors offense over the course of nine full innings. Expect the changing lighting conditions and bullpen workloads to push this game past its modest line.
Pick: Over 8
