Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 7/24/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Friday, July 24, 2026

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-160) Pittsburgh (+132)

The Chicago Cubs (57-45) are headed to PNC Park on Friday where they will try to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (53-50). The odds on this game have the Cubs at -160 and the Pirates are coming in at +132. The over/under is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Matthew Boyd and Jared Jones.

The Cubs have accounted for 163 two-baggers as a team and have hit 128 baseballs out of the park. Chicago owns a slugging percentage of .413 and have been rung up 868 times, while taking a walk on 448 occasions. As a team, the Chicago Cubs are notching 5.1 runs per game, which ranks them 4th in the league. They have accrued 486 runs batted in as well as 853 base knocks for the season, while their batting average sits at .245. They have racked up 520 runs scored while holding a team on-base percentage of .338.

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The Cubs hold a team ERA of 4.27 so far this season (19th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 798 batters. Cubs pitchers have allowed 157 home runs and also 455 runs in total (14th in the league). They have walked 311 opposing hitters and their FIP sits at 4.75 as a unit this season. Chicago has allowed 845 base knocks (8.4 per 9 innings) and 431 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.57 and their pitching staff has recorded a WHIP of 1.27.

The Cubs have dispatched 336 relief pitchers to the hill for the year. The relievers have inherited 152 base runners for the season with 31.6% of those runners earned a run for their team. The relief pitchers are sitting with 36 holds this year (29th in MLB). Cubs bullpen pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on 104 times in addition to having 99 appearances in high leverage situations. They have recorded 20 saves so far this year and have blown 17 out of their 37 save opportunities. The Cubs relief pitchers have a save percentage of 54.1% and have entered the game in 79 save situations.

The Cubs have converted 71.7% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 8,175 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 3rd in pro baseball. The Chicago Cubs have amassed 2,725 putouts on the campaign, in addition to 944 assists and 40 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .989 which has them ranked 4th in baseball, and have a total of 77 double plays.

Boyd has taken the ball for 1,140 innings and has tallied 1,096 strikeouts in his pro baseball career. Boyd (66-78 career mark) sits with a FIP of 4.49 while he has gone up against 4,831 opposing batters in the majors. His earned run average is 4.56 (577 ER's allowed) and he has a career WHIP of 1.274. He has given up 1,102 hits (8.7 hits per nine innings) and has 350 walks.

The Pirates hold a team SLG% of .424 and they are recording 5.27 runs per contest (2nd in MLB). They have 164 two-baggers, while taking a walk 382 times as well as racking up 543 runs. Pittsburgh has tallied 132 HRs for the season to go along with 519 RBIs. They have been rung up on 985 occasions (1st in baseball) and have 933 base knocks. The Pittsburgh Pirates have accounted for an OBP of .339 and a team batting average of .261 so far this year.

The Pittsburgh pitching staff have conceded 492 runs for the year and come in with a team ERA of 4.26 (435 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 107 home runs and they concede 4.82 runs per 9 innings (21st in the league). The Pirates have a WHIP of 1.309 in addition to having a FIP of 3.96 as a squad so far this year. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.20 (943 strikeouts against 370 walks). They are currently ranked 16th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 833.

Pittsburgh relief pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 31.0% out of 129 inherited runners. Their relievers have come in 93 times in high leverage situations and also on 91 occasions with runners on. Sitting with 87 save situations, the Pirates have earned 47 holds and 19 blown saves. They are currently ranked 28th in baseball holding a save percentage of 51.3%, and they have sent 327 bullpen pitchers to the hill this season.

Out of their 8,271 innings on the field, the Pirates have accumulated a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (25th in baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 81 double plays and own a fielding percentage of .983 (22nd in pro baseball). The Pirates have accrued 811 assists, 60 errors and have accounted for 2,757 putouts this season.

So far in his pro baseball career, Jones has given up 138 base knocks while accumulating 180 K's in 161 innings pitched. Jones (8-9 career record) has earned a 4.13 ERA while allowing 7.7 hits per nine innings. He has conceded a total of 74 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.172 and being the owner of a FIP of 4.1. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.53 and he has gone up against 667 hitters during his MLB career.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Chicago (-160)

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