Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, 7/25/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026

Location: PNC Park in Pittsburgh, PA

TV: SportsNet Pittsburgh

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-122) Pittsburgh (+102)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (53-50) will try to defeat the Chicago Cubs (57-45) at PNC Park on Saturday. The line on this matchup has the Cubs at -122 while the Pirates are sitting at +102. The over/under has been set at 9. The pitchers expected to start will be Shota Imanaga and Paul Skenes.

As a unit, the Chicago Cubs are recording 5.1 runs per outing, which has them sitting at 4th in baseball. They have a total of 520 runs scored and have an OBP of .338. The Cubs have accrued 163 doubles as a team and have hit 128 balls out of the stadium. They have accounted for 486 runs batted in in addition to 853 base knocks this year, while their batting average is at .245. Chicago has a slugging % of .413 and have been called out on strikes 868 times, while drawing a walk on 448 occasions.

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The Cubs have compiled a team earned run average of 4.27 on the season (19th in MLB), and the staff has rung up 798 batters. Cubs pitchers have surrendered 157 home runs and 455 total runs (12th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 311 batters and their FIP is 4.76 as a team over the course of the season. Chicago has yielded 845 hits (8.4 per 9 innings) and 431 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.57 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.27.

The Cubs have dispatched 336 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The relievers have inherited 152 runners so far this year and 31.6% of them ended up scoring. The relief pitchers have accumulated 36 holds for the season (29th in baseball). Cubs pitchers have gone to the mound with runners on base 104 times and also have had 99 appearances in high leverage situations. They have recorded 20 saves so far this year and have not converted 17 out of their 37 save opportunities. The Cubs relievers have earned a save rate of 54.1% and have entered the game in 79 save situations.

The Chicago Cubs have amassed 2,725 putouts this season, in addition to 944 assists and 40 errors. Their fielding percentage is currently at .989 which has them sitting 3rd in professional baseball, and have a total of 77 double plays. The Cubs have converted 71.7% of balls in play into outs in their 8,175 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 3rd in MLB.

Imanaga (30-19 win-loss record in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.40 and he has gone up against 1,725 hitters during his time in the major leagues. He has given up 366 hits (7.6 hits per 9 innings) and has had 82 free passes. His earned run average is 3.45 (166 ER's allowed) and his WHIP is 1.035. Imanaga has pitched in 433 innings and has accounted for 400 punch outs in his career.

Pittsburgh is sitting with 132 long balls so far this season as well as 519 RBIs. They have recorded 164 doubles, while walking 382 times as well as scoring 543 runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates have tallied an OBP of .339 and a batting average of .261 so far this season. The Pirates have a team slugging percentage of .424 and they score 5.27 runs per contest (2nd in the league). They have been rung up on 985 occasions (1st in MLB) and have a total of 933 base hits.

The Pirates are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.309 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.96 as a unit over the course of the season. Their K/BB ratio comes in at 9.20 (943 strikeouts against 370 bases on balls). They are sitting at 15th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 833. They have surrendered 107 dingers and they allow 4.82 runs per 9 innings (21st in the league). The Pittsburgh pitching staff have conceded 492 runs on the season while holding an ERA of 4.26 (435 earned runs surrendered).

Pittsburgh bullpen pitchers have an inherited score rate of 31.0% out of 129 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 93 times in high leverage situations and on 91 occasions with base runners. With 87 save situations, the Pirates have 47 holds and also 19 blown saves. They rank 28th in the league with a save rate of 51.3%, and they have sent 327 bullpen pitchers to the hill on the season.

In 8,271 innings played, the Pirates have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.0% (24th in professional baseball). The Pittsburgh Pirates have turned 81 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .983 (22nd in the majors). The Pirates have racked up 811 assists, 60 errors and have notched a total of 2,757 putouts this season.

During his MLB career, Skenes has surrendered 324 hits while he has totaled 524 K's in 435 innings. Skenes (30-21 record in his career) has earned a 2.36 earned run average while allowing 6.7 hits per 9 innings. He has given up a total of 114 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 0.974 and having a FIP of 2.3. His K/BB ratio is 5.24 and he has faced 1,712 opposing batters so far in his career.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+102)

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