Chicago Cubs (17-12) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-18)
April 30, 2025 6:40 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates +145 / Chicago Cubs -175; Over/Under: 8.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Wednesday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. Here’s a Pirates vs Cubs prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Pirates vs Cubs pick.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
Chicago posted a split in four games against the Arizona Diamondbacks in their opening set of the 2025 campaign, then swept the Oakland Athletics before a set win against the San Diego Padres. The Cubs took a series against the Texas Rangers next. After a series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers came a series loss versus the Padres. Chicago won two of three during the rematch with the Diamondbacks, then beat the Dodgers in both their games. The Cubs split their first two games with the Philadelphia Phillies last weekend, then in the rubber match Chicago took a 3-1 loss in 10 innings despite a solid pitching performance over seven innings from starter Jameson Taillon.
On Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, the Cubs bagged 13 team hits in a blowout win 9-0. Seiya Suzuki (three runs; two RBI) and Carson Kelly (three RBI) each had three hits and a home run. Starter Shota Imanaga finished with 5.0 clean frames, six hits, a walk and three strikeouts.
As starter for game two Chicago will roll with Matthew Boyd. This year Boyd is 2-2 with a 2.54 ERA in five starts across 28.1 innings total. Boyd is 48-71 with a 4.78 ERA in 187 career games (173 starts).
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they started things out with a trio of series losses versus the Miami Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. Pittsburgh got a series victory versus the St. Louis Cardinals, then faced a sweep by the Reds. Following another set win over the Washington Nationals, the Pirates were swept by the Guardians before taking a series win over the Angels. Pittsburgh split the first two games versus the Dodgers over the weekend. On Sunday the Pirates lost the series on a 9-2 defeat, giving up four runs in the first inning alone. Starter Bailey Falter gave up five earned on eight hits and two walks in 4.1 innings in that one.
In Tuesday’s matchup Pittsburgh gave up multiple runs in three different innings. Andrew Heaney left after 4.2 innings as starter, giving up four earned on five hits and three walks.
In the starting pitcher slot for Wednesday the Pirates are sending out Carmen Mlodzinski. So far in 2025 Mlodzinski is 1-3 with a 6.95 ERA over five starts and 22.0 innings in all. In his career Mlodzinski is 9-11 with a 3.73 ERA in 80 games (10 starts).
Pirates vs Cubs Prediction
I’ll stick with the Cubs here but I’m probably avoiding this one. The starter matchup should be interesting, though. Boyd is coming off a win over the Dodgers on April 23, posting 6.0 innings with three earned on 10 hits and a walk. In his two starts prior to that however, Boyd went 0-2 with 11.1 innings combined for five earned on 10 hits and five walks. As for Mlodzinski, he’s coming off a decent outing on April 24 versus the Angels with 5.0 innings and three earned runs. Mlodzinski went 0-2 with nine earned in 8.1 innings on 14 hits and four walks over his two starts before that, however.
Chicago pummeled the Pirates pitching in the Tuesday shutout victory, posting at least one earned run against five of the six arms Pittsburgh put on the mound. Wednesday’s matchup likely won’t be so one-sided, but the Cubs should still have control. Chicago has scored four or more runs in five of the last six games, winning four of those. Another offensive effort like that and the Cubs will be in spectacular shape.
