Chicago Cubs (18-12) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-19)
May 1, 2025 12:35 pm EDT
The Line: Pittsburgh Pirates -162 / Chicago Cubs 136; Over/Under: 7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Thursday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the final 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 took a split series in four games versus the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first appearance of the season, then bagged a sweep over the Oakland Athletics ahead of a series victory against the San Diego Padres. The Cubs won a set against the Texas Rangers after that. Following a series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers was a series loss against the Padres. Chicago took two of three during their rematch against the Diamondbacks, and afterward took out the Dodgers in two games. The Cubs split the first two weekend games with the Philadelphia Phillies, then lost the rubber match 3-1. On Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, the Cubs rolled to a 9-0 blowout victory on the strength of 13 team hits. Starting pitcher Shota Imanaga managed 5.0 innings with six hits, one walk and three strikeouts in the win.
In the Wednesday game two, Chicago scored three runs in the fifth inning and had a brief lead but ultimately fell 4-3 in a tough result. Ian Happ came away with two hits and a run, while Dansby Swanson notched three hits with a run. Starter Matthew Boyd had 5.0 innings with two earned on six hits and three walks.
As starter for Thursday’s matchup, the Cubs will roll with Colin Rea. This year Rea is 1-0 with a 0.96 ERA in six games (three starts). Rea is 27-20 with a 4.43 ERA in 100 career games (79 starts) during his MLB career.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
Over on the Pirates’ side, they opened the season by losing three straight series versus the Miami Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees. Pittsburgh finally won a set versus the St. Louis Cardinals, then got swept by the Reds. After another series victory over the Washington Nationals, the Pirates took a sweep by the Guardians ahead of a set victory over the Angels. Pittsburgh split their first two games versus the Dodgers. On Sunday the Pirates lost 9-2 to drop the series. On Tuesday versus Chicago, the Pirates gave up three runs in the seventh inning and were cooked from there. Andrew Heaney gave up four earned in 4.2 innings in the start on five hits and three walks.
In the Wednesday matchup Pittsburgh got two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cement the comeback bid. Andrew McCutchen had two RBI, and starter Carmen Mlodzinski had 4.0 innings with two earned on six hits and a walk.
In the starting pitcher role for Thursday the Pirates are sending out Paul Skenes. In six starts so far this year Skenes is 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA over 37.2 total innings. In 29 career starts Skenes is 14-5 with a 2.06 ERA overall.
Pirates vs Cubs Prediction
I’ll lean toward Pittsburgh getting it done here, but you could call it either way. We should have a good starter matchup on our hands. Skenes was still pretty good in his latest loss versus Cleveland on April 19, giving up two earned on six hits and a walk in 7.0 innings. Over the other pair in his last three outings, Skenes is 2-0 with 12.1 innings, one earned, eight hits and no walks. As for Rea, he’s got just two earned across 13.1 innings on 12 hits and three walks in his last three starts combined. Rea is 1-0 in that trio.
The Pirates really only had one bad inning in their Wednesday comeback victory: the three-run fifth. After that the bullpen finished things off with 4.0 frames, two hits, no earned, no walks and two strikeouts. Pittsburgh should be competitive Thursday as well, but it’s a close call.
