Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs 9/25/22 MLB Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates meet Sunday in MLB action from PNC Park. This will be the finale in a four-game weekend series. The Cubs took the first two installments, then on Saturday Pittsburgh grabbed a shutout victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

Chicago managed to eke out a 3-2 win on Thursday in the opener, then another 6-5 on Friday. In the Saturday game, the Cubs had five hits and two errors in a 6-0 shutout loss. Wade Miley lasted 4.0 frames in the start with one earned, three hits and a walk. 

Adrian Sampson will take the mound for the Cubs on Sunday. Across his 18 games (16 starts) this year Sampson is 2-5 with a 3.35 ERA. In 88.2 innings total he has 33 earned on 90 hits and 24 walks with 61 Ks. 

Over on the Pirates’ side, they were out-hit 10-6 in the Friday matchup and blew an early 4-2 lead. On Saturday, Pittsburgh scored five runs in the fifth inning alone. Starter Johan Oviedo logged 7.0 clean frames, three hits and seven strikeouts. 

Starter for Sunday’s game will be Luis Ortiz. Over two starts so far Ortiz has an 0.84 ERA without a decision. In 10.2 innings he has four hits, one earned, five walks and 10 Ks. 

The Cubs are 11-27 in their last 38 Sunday games and 2-5 in the last seven in game four of a series. The under is 7-2-1- in Chicago’s last 10 Sunday games. 

Meanwhile, the Pirates are 15-41 in the last 56 overall and 1-5 in their last six Sunday games. Pittsburgh is 1-5 in their last six in game four of a series. 

PICK: I’m going Cubs. Sampson is on a solid run these days; he’s got just two earned on 15 hits and five walks in 18.0 innings over his last three outings. It’ll be interesting to see what Ortiz can do as well, however. He’s got just the one earned run over 10.2 innings and is coming off a nice start versus the Yankees. I like Ortiz to put up a quality outing here in an eventual Cubs win.