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The Chicago Cubs (22-16) and Pittsburgh Pirates (17-21) open a 3-game series Friday. First pitch from PNC Park is set for 6:40 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the Cubs vs. Pirates odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: First meeting; Chicago won 10-3 last season
Chicago lost 3-0 vs. the San Diego Padres Wednesday while failing to cash as a +120 home underdog. RHP Hayden Wesneski picked up the loss as he allowed 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 1 walk with 3 K’s in 6 innings. The Cubs have lost 2 of their last 3 outings.
Pittsburgh dropped its 2nd straight game with a 5-4 loss vs. the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, failing to cash as a -132 home favorite. The Pirates led 4-2 at the end of the 5th, but they allowed the Angels to score 3 unanswered runs in the 6th.
Cubs at Pirates projected starters
RHP Javier Assad vs. RHP Jared Jones
Assad (3-0, 1.66 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 1.03 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9 and 7.3 K/9 in 38 innings.
- Last start: Win, 6 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K in 5-0 home victory vs. Milwaukee Brewers Sunday
- Career vs. Pittsburgh: 2-0, 2.81 ERA (16 IP, 5 ER), 12 H, 6 BB, 17 K across 3 starts — won both starts vs. Pirates in 2023 (12 IP, 2 ER)
Jones (2-3, 2.63 ERA) makes his 8th start. He has a 0.78 WHIP, 1.1 BB/9 and 11.4 K/9 in 41 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 K in 1-0 home win over Colorado Rockies Saturday
- Has never faced Cubs before
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Cubs at Pirates odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 2:05 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Cubs +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Pirates -130 (bet $130 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Cubs +1.5 (-215) | Pirates -1.5 (+176)
- Over/Under (O/U): 7.5 (O: -102 | U: -120)
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Cubs at Pirates picks and predictions
Prediction
Cubs 3, Pirates 1
Moneyline
BET CUBS (+110).
The Cubs have won back-to-back games vs. the Pirates in Pittsburgh and are 7-3 in the last 10 matchups overall. Chicago is also the slightly hotter team entering this matchup, as the Cubs are 3-2 in their last 5 games, while the Pirates are only 3-7 in their last 10.
Run line/Against the spread
PASS.
I expect Chicago to cover here as a +1.5 (-215) underdog, but the line is not worth the risk of betting on as currently set. The Cubs’ odds are simply safer on the moneyline, so bet on the moneyline and/or O/U instead.
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 7.5 (-120).
The Under has hit in back-to-back games for Chicago and is 7-3 in its last 10 games. For Pittsburgh, the Under is 6-2-2 in its last 10 games.
This is only a lean because the Over has hit in 5 consecutive Chicago-Pittsburgh matchups and is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
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