The Chicago Cubs (25-41) and Pittsburgh Pirates (26-39) meet Monday in a 7:05 p.m. ET opener of a 4-game series at PNC Park. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Cubs vs. Pirates odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: Pittsburgh leads their NL Central rivals 5-4.
The Cubs took 2 of 3 from the Atlanta Braves over the weekend after having lost 10 in a row. In their last 13 games, the Cubs are 2-11 with a 6.86 ERA. Chicago is now back on the road where it has lost 7 of its last 8.
The Pirates started their current home stand by dropping 2 of 3 to the San Francisco Giants. Like the Cubs, the Bucs have also gone just 2-11 in their last 13 games. Pittsburgh has scored just 2.77 runs per game over that stretch.
Cubs at Pirates projected starters
RHP Caleb Kilian vs. RHP J.T. Brubaker
Kilian (0-1, 8.00 ERA) has logged a 1.67 WHIP, 7.0 BB/9 and 6.0 K/9 through 9 IP in the first 2 starts of his career.
- The 25-year-old, who made his MLB debut on June 4 vs. the St. Louis Cardinals, had a 2.51 ERA in 43 IP in Triple-A.
- Lost June 15 start vs. San Diego Padres with 4 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 5 BB and 0 K.
Brubaker (0-7, 4.5 ERA) set to make 14th start of the season. He has a 1.44 WHIP, 3.94 BB/9 and 9.14 K/9 in 64 IP.
- Owns a 3.72 ERA over his last 7 starts.
- Has faced Chicago twice this season (0-1, 5.19 ERA, 5 ER, 14K in 8 2/3 IP).
Cubs at Pirates odds and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated 10:31 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Cubs -108 (bet $100 to win $108) | Pirates -112 (bet $112 to win $100)
- Run line (RL): Cubs -1.5 (+155) | Pirates +1.5 (-190)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8.5 (O: -102 | U: -122)
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Cubs at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 5, Pirates 3
Money line
Brubaker is coming off a season-high 106 pitches, and current Cubs batters own an aggregate .797 OPS against him.
Chicago has been hurt by a 7-14 record in 1-run games. Its bullpen has been tagged by the highest batting average on balls in play (.316) and highest rate of fly balls landing as home runs (16.3%) in the league. The Cubs are a respectable 5-5 in road-series openers.
BACK THE CUBS (-108).
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Run line/Against the spread
Too much juice to wade through. PASS.
Over/Under
The Under is 33-25-7 in Pittsburgh’s games. And its 3-0-1 in the last 4 Cubs-Pirates meetings.
Leaning into both starters and both rested bullpens, TAKE THE UNDER 8.5 (-122). Its a slight-to-moderate lean: consider a partial-unit play.
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