Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 9/17/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-128) Pittsburgh (+106)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (65-86) host the Chicago Cubs (86-64) at PNC Park on Wednesday. The moneyline on this contest has the Cubs at -128 while the Pirates are sitting at +106. The over/under is 8. The pitchers taking the mound will be Matthew Boyd and Johan Oviedo.

The Cubs have tallied 247 doubles as a team and have knocked 202 balls out of the park. Chicago has a slugging percentage of .427 and have been called out on strikes 1,171 times, while taking a walk on 516 occasions. As a team, the Chicago Cubs are notching 4.9 runs per contest, which has them at 7th in the league. They have compiled 713 runs batted in as well as 1,267 base knocks so far this year, and their batting average is sitting at .249. They have a total of 731 runs and have an OBP of .320.

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Their K/BB ratio is 3.02 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.19. Cubs pitchers have given up 184 home runs in addition to 605 runs in total (5th in baseball). Chicago has relinquished 1,203 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) as well as 567 earned runs. The Cubs have an earned run average of 3.83 on the season (7th in baseball), and the staff has struck out 1,152 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 382 players from the other team and their FIP is 4.19 as a team for the year.

The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 68.3% and stepped onto the hill in 166 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 135 runners so far this year with 32.6% of them ended up crossing the plate. Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with opponents on base 96 times in addition to having 153 appearances in high leverage situations. The Cubs have sent 488 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The bullpen are sitting with 103 holds for the season (2nd in MLB). They have accumulated 41 saves on the season and have blown 19 of their 60 chances to get a save.

The Cubs have turned 71.7% of baseballs in play into outs in their 11,979 innings on the diamond, ranking them 3rd in professional baseball. The Boston Red Sox have notched a total of 3,993 putouts this season, as well as 1,266 assists and 57 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .989 which has them sitting 5th in baseball, and have a total of 115 double plays.

Boyd has taken the mound for 1,079 frames and has totaled 1,037 strikeouts so far in his pro baseball career. His ERA is 4.56 (547 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.276. He has surrendered 1,044 base knocks (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 333 walks. Boyd (59-77 career record) has a FIP of 4.49 while facing 4,575 batters during his time in the major leagues.

Pittsburgh has tallied 107 long balls this year as well as 519 runs batted in. They have recorded 224 doubles, while walking 501 times as well as putting up 540 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have earned an on-base percentage of .305 as well as a team batting average of .230 on the season. The Pirates have a SLG% of .348 and they are recording 3.58 runs per game (30th in MLB). They have been called out on strikes on 1,319 occasions (7th in MLB) and are sitting with 1,152 base hits.

The Pirates hold a team WHIP of 1.223 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.87 as a unit this season. They come in at 9th in the league as a staff in total hits relinquished with 1,186. The Pittsburgh pitching staff have yielded 614 runs so far this season while holding a team ERA of 3.87 (572 earned runs surrendered). They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 8.20 (1,206 strikeouts against 442 walks). They have allowed 142 long balls and they concede 4.15 runs per 9 innings (8th in MLB).

Pittsburgh relievers have an inherited score rate of 36.3% of 204 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 147 times in high leverage situations and also on 133 occasions with runners on base. With 125 save situations, the Pirates have amassed 66 holds and 24 blown saves. They are ranked 24th in MLB with a save rate of 57.9%, and they have sent 471 relief pitchers onto the diamond over the course of the season. Pittsburgh has had relief pitchers step onto the hill in 57 save opportunities and they have come away with 33 saves.

In 11,985 innings played, the Pirates have earned a efficiency on defense of 70.7% (7th in pro baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 109 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .986 (14th in pro baseball). The Pirates have racked up 1,246 assists, 72 errors and have 3,995 putouts for the year.

During his MLB career, Oviedo has given up 311 base knocks while totaling 308 punch outs in 345 innings. Oviedo (15-25 win-loss mark in his career) is the owner of a 4.22 earned run average while giving up 8.1 hits per nine innings. He has surrendered 162 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.384 and a FIP of 4.2. His K/BB ratio is 1.84 and he has gone up against 1,531 hitters during his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+106)

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