Pirates vs Cubs Prediction 9/16/25 MLB Picks Today

In this article we will formulate a Pirates vs Cubs prediction for this MLB game on Tuesday, September 16th 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 65-86 this year after they lost game one by a score of 4-0 on Monday night. Pittsburgh fell behind in the third inning and never recovered in the shutout loss. The Pirates recorded just three hits in the game and they were led by Horwitz, Reynolds, and Gonzales, who all had one hit in the loss. Pittsburgh started Ashcraft, who allowed six hits and three earned runs over 4.0 innings for the loss, while Sanders allowed one earned run in relief. 

Prior to this series, the Pirates lost two out of three against the Nationals and all three against the Orioles. Pittsburgh has lost nine of their last ten games and they are last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.87 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a .237 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 540 runs with a .230 batting average and a .305 on base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added 15 home runs and 71 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Paul Skenes, who is 10-9 with a 1.92 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP over 178.0 innings pitched this year. 

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

The Chicago Cubs are 86-64 this season after they won game one by a score of 4-0 on Monday night. Chicago scored twice in the third, once in the fourth, and once in the sixth in the shutout victory. The Cubs recorded nine hits in the game and they were led by Crow-Armstrong, Busch, and Swanson, who all had one RBI in the win. Chicago started Taillon, who allowed two hits and zero earned runs over 6.0 innings for the win, while Keller got the save. 

Prior to this series, the Cubs won two out of three against the Rays and two out of three against the Braves. Chicago has won five of their last six games and they are second in the NL Central standings. The Chicago pitching staff has a 3.83 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and a .241 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 731 runs with a .249 batting average and a .320 on base percentage this season. Seiya Suzuki has led Chicago with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs, while Pete Crow-Armstrong has added 29 home runs and 88 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Cade Horton, who is 10-4 with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 110.0 innings pitched this season. 

Why the Cubs will beat the Pirates

• The Cubs have won each of their last seven games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last six home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last seven games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last five games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have led after 3 innings in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have led after 5 innings in eight of their last nine night games against the Pirates.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Cubs’ last seven night games against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Seven of the last eight games between the Cubs and Pirates have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the last four games between the Cubs and Pirates.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in 12 of the Cubs’ last 15 games against NL Central opponents.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in five of the Pirates’ last six games as home favorites against the Cubs.
• Bryan Reynolds has recorded at least one hit in each of the Pirates’ last 12 games as favorites against the Cubs.
• Oneil Cruz has recorded a Double in three of the Pirates’ last four games as home favorites against the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Dansby Swanson has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 13 night games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances in night games against NL Central teams that held a losing record.
• Ian Happ has recorded a Double in each of the Cubs’ last six games as road underdogs against the Pirates.

Pirates vs Cubs Prediction 

Chicago was able to get the win on Monday to open this series and they are just five games back in the NL Central. The Cubs are 40-35 on the road this year, while the Pirates are 42-34 at home. Pittsburgh continues to struggle over their last 10 games, but they are starting Skenes, who has allowed a total of one earned run in his last four outings. Chicago is going with Horton, who has allowed a total of four earned runs in his last five starts. Both of these pitchers have been very solid this season, but the Cubs lineup is miles ahead of Pittsburgh’s. Take the Cubs to get another win here.