Cubs vs Pirates Prediction 8/17/25 MLB Picks Today

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs meet Sunday in MLB action at Wrigley Field. Here’s a Cubs vs Pirates Prediction. This article will include a Cubs vs Pirates Pick.

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 52-72 on the year and play the Blue Jays, Rockies, and Cardinals next. The Pittsburgh Pirates are batting .231 on the season, have a .303 OBP, and a .345 slugging percentage. The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff has a 4.04 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Bryan Reynolds leads the Pittsburgh Pirates with 111 hits and 61 RBI, while Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Andrew McCutchen have combined for 187 hits and 74 RBI.

Carmen Mlodzinski gets the ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he is 2-7 with a 4.20 ERA and 62 strikeouts this season. Mlodzinski is 0-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 13 strikeouts in his career against the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

The Chicago Cubs are 69-53 on the year and play the Brewers, Angels, and Giants next. The Chicago Cubs are batting .252 on the season, have a .321 OBP, and a .433 slugging percentage. The Chicago Cubs pitching staff has a 3.82 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Nico Hoerner leads the Chicago Cubs with 132 hits and 48 RBI while Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker have combined for 235 hits and 141 RBI.

Javier Assad gets the ball for the Chicago Cubs, and he is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 2 strikeouts this season. Assad is 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA and 21 strikeouts in his career against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Pirates have lost each of their last six games after playing the previous day.
• The Cubs have won each of their last six Sunday games against teams that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games after playing the previous day.
• The favorites have covered the run line in four of the Pirates’ last five games.

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cubs have lost each of their last five games as favorites following a win.
• The Pirates have won six of their last seven games as road underdogs against the Cubs following a road loss.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 games following a win.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last seven road games against the Cubs following a loss.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Dansby Swanson has hit a home run in nine of his last 18 appearances against the Pirates.
• Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 10 Sunday appearances against NL teams that held a losing record.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks 9th in the league in Steals (30) this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Jack Suwinski has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances at Wrigley Field against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• Tommy Pham has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 13 appearances in day games.

Cubs vs Pirates Prediction

The Pirates continue to look like a team that’s run out of gas and Mlodzinski doesn’t do much given that he’s a relief pitcher that may go two innings if he’s lucky. Assad doesn’t have many innings under his belt this season, but it doesn’t matter. If the Cubs are serious about making a potential playoff push, these are games they need to win. There are no excuses. Throw the pitching matchup in the garbage, the Cubs need these games. The Pirates stink. Give me the Cubs and the RL for max betting value.