Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 9/12/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

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

Wrigley Field is the site where the Chicago Cubs (81-66) will play the Pittsburgh Pirates (74-73) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has the Pirates at +106 while the Cubs are sitting at -128. The total has been set at 8.5. The pitchers who are expected to start are Paul Skenes and Clay Holmes.

The Pirates have accrued 222 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 168 balls out of the stadium. Pittsburgh owns a slugging percentage of .403 and have struck out 1,376 times, while drawing a walk on 520 occasions. As a unit, the Pittsburgh Pirates are recording 4.8 runs per game, which puts them at 5th in baseball. They have tallied 676 RBI's and 1,280 base knocks on the year, while their batting average is at .253. They have racked up 709 runs while having a team OBP of .331.

Get all of our MLB Expert Picks

The Pirates have a team earned run average of 4.13 on the season (15th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 1,357 hitters. Pirates pitchers have given up 141 home runs and also 673 total runs (20th in MLB). They have walked 532 opposing batters and their FIP sits at 3.82 as a unit this year. Pittsburgh has given up 1,169 hits (8.0 per 9 innings) in addition to 602 earned runs. They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.55 and the pitching staff has a team WHIP of 1.30.

Pirates pitchers have entered the game with runners on 123 times and also have had 140 appearances in high leverage situations. The bullpen have 69 holds so far this year (25th in MLB). The Pirates relievers have a save percentage of 60.0% and have come into the game in 126 save situations. They have accumulated 33 saves so far this season and have not converted 22 of 55 chances to save the game. The relief pitchers have inherited 180 runners so far this year with 31.7% of those players earned a run for their team. The Pirates have dispatched 479 relief pitchers to the hill so far this year.

The Pirates have turned 69.0% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 11,820 innings on the field, which has them ranked 26th in baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a tally of 3,940 putouts on the year, in addition to 1,161 assists and 91 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .982 which ranks 26th in baseball, and they have turned 119 double plays.

Skenes has taken the ball for 475 innings and has racked up 567 punch outs in his MLB career. Skenes (31-24 record in his career) holds a FIP of 2.54 while he has gone up against 1,887 hitters during his time in the major leagues. His ERA is 2.58 (136 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.014. He has conceded 363 base knocks (6.9 hits per 9 innings) with 119 walks.

Chicago has hit 203 long balls this year as well as 736 runs batted in. They have recorded 248 doubles, while getting a free base 620 times as well as putting up 780 runs. The Chicago Cubs have an on-base percentage of .339 as well as a batting average of .251 over the course of the season. The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .429 and they have an average of 5.31 runs per outing (1st in the league). They have been rung up on 1,243 occasions (12th in baseball) and have accounted for 1,267 base hits.

The Chicago pitching staff have relinquished 652 runs so far this season while holding an ERA of 4.22 (615 earned runs conceded). They have allowed 221 home runs and they relinquish 4.47 runs per 9 innings (14th in MLB). The Cubs have a team WHIP of 1.269 in addition to having a FIP of 4.71 as a staff on the campaign. They have earned a strikeout to walk ratio of 7.80 (1,142 strikeouts vs 449 free passes). They sit at 18th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 1,216.

Chicago relievers hold an inherited score percentage of 32.7% of 205 inherited base runners. Their relievers have taken the field 142 times in high leverage situations and on 147 occasions with base runners. With 116 save situations, the Cubs have earned 51 holds and 26 blown saves. They are currently ranked 26th in MLB with a save percentage of 55.2%, and they have dispatched 471 relief pitchers to the mound over the course of the season.

Out of their 11,808 innings on the field, the Cubs have earned a efficiency on defense of 71.8% (3rd in the majors). The Chicago Cubs have turned 113 double plays and have a fielding percentage of .990 (1st in baseball). The Cubs have racked up 1,387 assists, 54 errors and have 3,936 putouts so far this year.

Holmes (38-33 win-loss mark in his career) has a 3.64 earned run average while conceding 7.8 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout to walk ratio is 2.20 and he has faced 2,302 hitters in his pro baseball career. He has allowed 217 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.293 and a FIP of 3.6. So far in his pro baseball career, Holmes has allowed 462 hits while totaling 509 strikeouts in 536 frames.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Pittsburgh (+106)

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.