Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/11/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, September 11, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

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

The Pittsburgh Pirates (73-73) are hitting the road to Wrigley Field on Friday where they will play the Chicago Cubs (81-66). The odds on this game have Pittsburgh at +132 and Chicago opens at -160. The total has been set at 8.5. The men taking the mound will be Braxton Ashcraft and Shota Imanaga.

As a team, the Pittsburgh Pirates are notching 4.8 runs per outing, which puts them at 5th in MLB. They have a total of 707 runs and hold an on-base percentage of .331. The Pirates have accounted for 221 two-baggers as a team and have hit 167 balls out of the park. They have 674 RBI's as well as 1,273 hits this year, and their team batting average comes in at .254. Pittsburgh has a slugging % of .403 and have been rung up 1,370 times, while taking a walk on 519 occasions.

Get all of our Free MLB Picks

The Pirates have compiled a team earned run average of 4.15 this year (16th in MLB), and their staff has struck out 1,346 batters. Pirates pitchers have surrendered 141 home runs and also 673 total runs (20th in the league). Their pitching staff has walked 530 players from the other team and their FIP sits at 3.84 as a squad over the course of the season. Pittsburgh has surrendered 1,167 hits (8.1 per 9 innings) in addition to 602 earned runs. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 2.54 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.30.

The Pirates relief pitchers have a save rate of 59.3% and stepped onto the hill in 124 save situations. They have accumulated 32 saves on the year and have blown 22 of their 54 save opportunities. The relief pitchers have inherited 180 base runners this season and 31.7% of them crossing the plate. Pirates relief pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 123 times as well as having 138 appearances in high leverage situations. The Pirates have sent 477 relief pitchers to the hill so far this season. The bullpen have 68 holds this season (25th in the league).

The Pittsburgh Pirates are sitting with 3,913 putouts thus far, in addition to 1,158 assists and 90 errors. Their fielding percentage sits at .983 which has them sitting 26th in MLB, and they have turned 119 double plays. The Pirates have turned 68.9% of baseballs in play into outs in their 11,739 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 26th in the majors.

Ashcraft (18-10 record in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.33 while going up against 959 batters during his time in the majors. He has conceded 208 base knocks (8.0 hits per 9 innings) and has had 59 free passes. His ERA is 3.38 (88 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.140. Ashcraft has taken the mound for 234 innings and has racked up 244 K's during his MLB career.

The Cubs have a team slugging % of .429 and they score 5.31 runs per outing (1st in baseball). They have hit 248 doubles, while getting a free base 620 times and putting up 780 runs. Chicago has accumulated 203 HRs on the year to go along with 736 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 1,243 instances (11th in MLB) and are sitting with 1,267 hits. The Chicago Cubs have tallied a team on-base percentage of .339 as well as a team batting average of .251 on the season.

The Cubs hold a team WHIP of 1.269 in addition to having a FIP of 4.71 as a squad for the year. They are sitting at 18th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits relinquished with 1,216. The Chicago pitching staff have given up 652 runs so far this season while having a team ERA of 4.22 (615 earned runs relinquished). Their K/BB ratio is 7.80 (1,142 strikeouts against 449 free passes). They have surrendered 221 home runs and they concede 4.47 runs per 9 innings (13th in MLB).

With 116 save situations, the Cubs have earned 51 holds in addition to 26 blown saves. Chicago has called on relief pitchers to enter the contest in 58 save chances and they have earned 32 saves. Chicago bullpen pitchers have an inherited score percentage of 32.7% of 205 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have come in 142 times in high leverage situations in addition to 147 occasions with runners on base. They are currently ranked 26th in MLB with a save rate of 55.2%, and they have dispatched 471 relief pitchers onto the diamond this year.

In their 11,808 innings played, the Cubs have earned a defensive efficiency of 71.8% (3rd in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have turned 113 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .990 (1st in pro baseball). The Cubs have racked up 1,387 assists, 54 errors and have earned 3,936 putouts on the campaign.

So far in his pro baseball career, Imanaga has allowed 406 base knocks while he has accumulated 443 strikeouts in 474 innings pitched. He has surrendered 184 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.044 and a FIP of 3.4. His strikeout to walk ratio is 4.98 and he has faced 1,898 opposing hitters so far in his pro baseball career. Imanaga (33-21 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.49 ERA while allowing 7.7 hits per nine innings.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+132)

Get $60 worth of FREE premium member picks. No Obligation. No Salesman. No Credit Card. Fast Sign up with Instant Access Click Here

Get MLB picks on every single game, or if you want our very best bets by the experts, sign up for your free $60 account with a guarantee.