Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 8/17/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

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

The Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71) are on their way to Wrigley Field on Sunday where they will try to defeat the Chicago Cubs (68-52). The odds on this game have Pittsburgh at +106 while Chicago opens at -128. The total is 9. The pitchers who are expected to start are Andrew Heaney and Javier Assad.

Pittsburgh has a slugging percentage of .346 and have been called out on strikes 1,054 times, while being walked on 388 occasions. They have amassed 418 runs batted in and 942 hits on the campaign, while their average at the plate is at .232. The Pirates have tallied 168 two-baggers as a unit and have smacked 86 baseballs out of the park. They have earned 432 runs scored and hold an OBP of .304. As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 3.5 runs per outing, which ranks them 30th in the league.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.64 and the pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.24. Pirates pitchers have allowed 122 home runs and also 517 runs in total (14th in baseball). Pittsburgh has allowed 979 base hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and 486 earned runs. The Pirates are sitting with a team ERA of 4.06 on the season (17th in the league), and the staff has struck out 947 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 359 opposing hitters and their FIP is 3.97 as a squad so far this year.

The Pirates relievers have recorded a save rate of 56.8% and stepped onto the hill in 100 save situations. The relief pitchers have inherited 177 runners this season with 36.7% of those runners crossed the plate. Pirates relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 112 times and also have had 118 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have dispatched 379 relievers to the hill so far this year. The relievers have recorded 54 holds on the campaign (25th in baseball). They have recorded 25 saves on the season and have blown 19 of 44 chances to save the game.

The Pirates have turned 70.8% of balls in play into outs in their 9,693 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 10th in baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have amassed 3,231 putouts this season, in addition to 1,009 assists and 56 errors. Their fielding rate sits at .987 which ranks 11th in professional baseball, and have accumulated 87 double plays.

Heaney has taken the ball for 1,133 innings and has 1,153 strikeouts during his MLB career. Heaney (56-72 career win-loss mark) holds a FIP of 4.44 while he has faced 4,843 batters in the major leagues. His earned run average is 4.51 (568 earned runs allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.271. He has allowed 1,103 base hits (8.8 hits per nine innings) and has 337 free passes.

The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .434 and they are scoring 5.04 runs per contest (4th in MLB). They have put up 199 doubles, while taking a walk 403 times as well as racking up 605 runs. Chicago has accounted for 170 home runs so far this season to go along with 589 RBIs. They have been rung up on 933 occasions (27th in the league) and have totaled 1,036 base hits. The Chicago Cubs are sitting with a team OBP of .321 as well as a team batting average of .252 so far this season.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.207 and have a FIP of 4.19 as a team over the course of the season. They are currently ranked 12th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 978. The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 490 runs on the season while having an ERA of 3.86 (456 earned runs surrendered). They have earned a K/BB ratio of 7.70 (906 strikeouts against 306 free passes). They have allowed 149 HR's and they surrender 4.14 runs per 9 innings (7th in the league).

Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 40 save opportunities and they have recorded 27 saves. They rank 6th in MLB holding a save rate of 67.5%, and they have sent 391 relief pitchers to the mound so far this season. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 111 times in high leverage situations in addition to 81 occasions with runners on. Chicago relievers hold an inherited score rate of 31.0% out of 113 inherited runners. With 121 save situations, the Cubs have accumulated 78 holds and 13 blown saves.

Out of their 9,582 innings on the field, the Cubs are sitting with a efficiency on defense of 71.4% (3rd in pro baseball). The Chicago Cubs have turned 95 double plays and have accounted for a fielding rate of .988 (7th in professional baseball). The Cubs have recorded 1,002 assists, 50 errors and have accounted for 3,194 putouts so far this season.

In his career, Assad has conceded 279 base hits while he has totaled 250 strikeouts in 298 innings. He has allowed a total of 115 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.356 and having a FIP of 3.4. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.00 and he has faced 1,274 batters in his pro baseball career. Assad (14-12 mark in his career) holds a 3.47 ERA while surrendering 8.4 hits per nine innings.

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

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

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