Pirates vs Cubs Prediction 5/26/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Cubs prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, May 26th at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup. 

Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates are 28-26 this season after they won game one by a score of 2-1 on Monday afternoon. Pittsburgh allowed the tying run in the fifth inning, but they answered with one in the seventh for the win. The Pirates recorded eight hits in the game and they were led by Lowe, who went 2-4 with one RBI. Mlodzinski allowed five hits and one earned run over 5.0 innings, while Dotel got the win and Soto picked up the save. Prior to this series, Pittsburgh lost two out of three against the Blue Jays, but did win two out of three against the Cardinals before that. 

This season, Pittsburgh has a 3.79 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP and a .225 opponent batting average, while they have scored 258 runs with a .249 batting average and a .331 on base percentage. Oneil Cruz has led the Pirates with 11 home runs and 34 RBIs, while Brandon Lowe has added 13 home runs and 33 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Braxton Ashcraft, who is 3-2 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over 62.1 innings pitched this season. 

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

The Chicago Cubs are 29-25 this year after they lost game one by a score of 2-1 yesterday. Chicago tied the game at one in the fifth inning, but that was all of the offense they could find in the low scoring loss. The Cubs recorded six hits and they committed two errors in the game, while they were led by Busch, who went 1-4 with one home run and one RBI. Brown allowed four hits and one earned run over 6.0 innings, while Thornton was charged with the loss. Prior to this series, Chicago lost all three against the Astros and all three against the Brewers.

This season, Chicago has a 4.09 ERA with a 1.23 WHIP and a .236 opponent batting average, while they have scored 254 runs with a .236 batting average and a .334 on base percentage. Nico Hoerner has led the Cubs with four home runs and 31 RBIs, while Dansby Swanson has added seven home runs and 27 RBIs. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Jordan Wicks, who is making his first appearance of the season. 

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cubs have lost each of their last nine games.
• The Pirates have won each of their last four home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine games.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last four games against the Cubs.
• The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games against opponents that held a winning record.
• The Pirates have won the first inning in three of their last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Cubs have won each of their last eight games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last nine games against the Cubs following a home win.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last eight games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six night games following a home win.
• The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last six night games against the Pirates.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Cubs’ last four games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Pirates’ last seven games as favorites against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last six road games against National League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Braxton Ashcraft’s last four home appearances as a starter.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last four games as home favorites against the Cubs.
• Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances with his team as a favorite against the Cubs.
• Oneil Cruz is one of only two players to record 10+ Home Runs and 10+ Stolen Bases this season.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in each of the Cubs’ last two games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 road appearances.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (467).
• The Pirates rank 29th in the league for strikeouts against this season (503).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (246).
• The Cubs rank 29th in the league for home runs allowed this season (74).

Pirates vs Cubs Prediction 

Chicago’s losing streak was extended on Monday in game one and they have scored two runs or fewer in four of their last five games. The Cubs are 11-14 on the road this year, while the Pirates are 14-13 at home. Pittsburgh has split their last four games, but they have allowed two runs or fewer in three of their last five. The Pirates are starting Ashcraft, who has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his last four starts, while Wicks is making his first appearance of the season. I don’t trust the Cubs to score right now and Ashcraft has been very good, so I like the Pirates here.