Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/15/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Monday, September 15, 2025

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-182) Pittsburgh (+150)

The Chicago Cubs (83-63) are on their way to PNC Park on Monday where they will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (64-83). The moneyline on this contest has Chicago at -182 and Pittsburgh is priced at +150. The betting total is set at 9. The expected starting pitchers will be Cade Horton and Paul Skenes.

The Cubs have recorded 239 doubles as a team and have hit 196 balls out of the park. Chicago has a slugging % of .425 and have been rung up 1,140 times, while taking a walk on 500 occasions. As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are notching 4.9 runs per game, which has them at 8th in the league. They have accrued 696 runs batted in in addition to 1,230 hits for the season, while their team batting average sits at .248. They have earned a total of 713 runs while holding a team OBP of .319.

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The Cubs have a team earned run average of 3.86 for the year (9th in the league), and they have rung up 1,119 batters. Cubs pitchers have allowed 179 long balls and 593 total runs (6th in the league). They have walked 370 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 4.18 as a unit on the year. Chicago has conceded 1,172 base knocks (8.1 per 9 innings) as well as 555 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 3.02 and the pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.19.

Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 94 times as well as having 146 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have tallied 99 holds on the campaign (3rd in MLB). The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 69.1% and have come into the game in 157 save situations. They have recorded 38 saves so far this season and have not converted 17 out of their 55 save chances. The relievers have inherited 131 runners so far this year and 32.8% of them earned a run for their team. The Cubs have sent 474 relief pitchers to the mound on the campaign.

The Boston Red Sox have 3,885 putouts so far this season, in addition to 1,225 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .989 which is 5th in MLB, and have a total of 113 double plays. The Cubs have converted 71.6% of baseballs in play into outs in their 11,655 innings on the field, which has them sitting at 3rd in pro baseball.

Horton has pitched in 110 innings and has 89 K's in his MLB career. His ERA is 2.70 (33 ER's allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.109. He has allowed 90 base knocks (7.4 hits per nine innings) and has 32 free passes. Horton (10-4 win-loss record in his career) has a FIP of 2.66 while going up against 446 hitters during his time in the major leagues.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned an on-base percentage of .305 and a team batting average of .232 on the year. They have struck out on 1,288 occasions (8th in MLB) and have earned 1,127 hits. Pittsburgh has tallied 105 home runs over the course of the season as well as 507 runs batted in. The Pirates have a team slugging % of .349 and they tally 3.59 runs per contest (30th in baseball). They have put up 220 two-baggers, while walking 481 times as well as scoring 527 runs.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.226 with a FIP of 3.88 as a pitching staff on the campaign. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.10 (1,173 strikeouts vs 432 bases on balls). They rank 9th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,159. They have surrendered 138 homers and they allow 4.16 runs per 9 innings (8th in the league). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have relinquished 599 runs for the season while having an ERA of 3.87 (558 earned runs surrendered).

With 123 save situations, the Pirates have recorded 65 holds in addition to 23 blown saves. Pittsburgh has called on relief pitchers to step onto the mound in 56 save opportunities and they have come away with 33 saves. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill 143 times in high leverage situations and on 129 occasions with runners on. Pittsburgh bullpen pitchers hold an inherited score rate of 36.0% of 197 inherited base runners. They sit at 24th in baseball holding a save rate of 58.9%, and they have sent 460 relief pitchers to the mound this season.

In 11,679 innings on the field, the Pirates hold a defensive efficiency of 70.6% (9th in professional baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 108 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (13th in pro baseball). The Pirates have racked up 1,221 assists, 70 errors and have notched a total of 3,893 putouts this season.

Skenes (21-12 career win-loss record) has a 1.94 ERA and has surrendered 6.3 hits per 9 innings. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 5.25 and he has faced 1,205 opposing batters during his career. He has allowed 67 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 0.932 and having a FIP of 1.9. During his pro baseball career, Skenes has given up 219 hits and he has 373 K's in 311 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+150)

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