The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs on May 26, 2026. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on MARQ.
The Pirates are favored by -130 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Cubs are +110 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find our 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: Under 8.5 (-124, play to -8)
Our Cubs vs Pirates best bet is on the under total runs. 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 -188 | 8.5 102o / -124u | +110 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +155 | 8.5 102o / -124u | -130 |
- Cubs vs Pirates moneyline: Cubs +110, Pirates -130
- Cubs vs Pirates over/under: 8.5 (+102o / -124u)
- Cubs vs Pirates spread: Pirates -1.5 (+155), Cubs +1.5 (-188)
Cubs vs Pirates Probable Pitchers
| LHP Jordan Wicks (CHC) | Stat | RHP Braxton Ashcraft (PIT) |
|---|---|---|
| Season Debut | W-L | 3-2 |
| — | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.5 |
| — | ERA / xERA | 2.89/2.84 |
| — | FIP / xFIP | 3.15/3.19 |
| — | K-BB% | 19.9% |
| — | GB% | 47.8% |
| — | BABIP | .269 |
| — | Stuff+ | 103 |
| — | Location+ | 103 |
Cubs vs Pirates MLB Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs return to PNC Park on Tuesday evening desperate to snap a frigid nine-game losing streak that has seen them slide down the NL Central standings.
Currently sitting at 29-25, the Cubs have struggled to find any offensive rhythm during this stretch, a trend that continued in Monday's series opener.
Despite outhitting the Pirates, Chicago fell 2-1 after failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities, a recurring theme during their recent slide.
On the mound for Chicago is Jordan Wicks, making his highly anticipated season debut. The left-hander will be tasked with stabilizing a rotation that has felt the weight of the team's losing streak.
He faces a Pittsburgh Pirates squad that has been steady at home (14-13) and currently sits at 28-26 overall.
The Pirates’ success has been built on a disciplined approach at the plate, ranking fifth in the majors with a .331 team on-base percentage.
They took the first game of this four-game set thanks to a clutch solo blast from Henry Davis in the seventh inning and a lockdown performance from their bullpen.
Pittsburgh will counter with Braxton Ashcraft, who has been a bright spot in their rotation this year. Ashcraft enters the contest with a 3-2 record, a tidy 2.89 ERA, and a 1.03 WHIP.
His ability to limit base runners and rack up strikeouts (65 on the season) makes him a formidable opponent for a Cubs lineup that is currently searching for answers.
Cubs vs Pirates Pick, Betting Analysis
The smart play for Tuesday’s matchup is to take the Under 8.5 runs. This recommendation is heavily supported by the "Under After Low Scoring Game in Series, Short Term" system developed by Evan Abrams.
This specific betting strategy focuses on regular-season matchups where both teams are coming off a game in the same series where they scored two runs or fewer. Following Monday’s 2-1 result, both the Cubs and Pirates fit this criteria perfectly.
The logic behind the system is that these low-scoring affairs often highlight either elite pitching or, more commonly, a period where both offenses have gone cold. Oddsmakers frequently fail to adjust the total downward quickly enough to account for these environmental factors.
With Braxton Ashcraft pitching at a high level and Jordan Wicks entering as a bit of a wild card who could provide a "fresh arm" boost, the conditions are ripe for another defensive struggle.
Pick: Under 8.5 (-124, play to -8)
