Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Prediction for Sunday, July 26, 2026

The Chicago Cubs visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday at 1:35 PM ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Chicago is 58-45 and sits second in the NL Central, six games behind Milwaukee. The Cubs opened the series with a 3-2 win in 10 innings on Friday and have won three of their last five games. Pittsburgh is 53-51 and sits third in the division, 11.5 games behind the Brewers. The Pirates have dropped two straight games but remain one of the National League's top offensive clubs and own a strong 27-25 home record. Cash in a winner with our free MLB picks.

Chicago Cubs Solid at the Plate but Struggling on the Mound

Chicago has produced a balanced offense this season, batting .244 while scoring 523 runs with 859 hits, 129 home runs, a .337 on-base percentage, and a .411 slugging percentage. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with a .285 batting average, 22 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 109 hits. Seiya Suzuki has added 17 home runs, Ian Happ has hit 18, and Dansby Swanson leads the club with 59 RBIs. Chicago has shown the ability to manufacture runs while also getting timely power throughout the lineup.

The Cubs have received dependable work from their pitching staff, posting a 4.23 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP while holding opponents to a .246 batting average. Chicago has recorded 804 strikeouts and has consistently received quality innings from both the rotation and bullpen. That steady pitching effort helped the Cubs limit Pittsburgh to two runs in Friday's extra-inning victory.

Injuries: Trent Thornton (Day-to-Day), Ethan Roberts (15-Day IL), Matt Shaw (10-Day IL), Hoby Milner (15-Day IL), Riley Martin (15-Day IL).

Pittsburgh Pirates are Strong on the Mound

Pittsburgh owns one of baseball's most productive offenses, batting .260 while scoring 545 runs with 941 hits, 132 home runs, a .338 on-base percentage, and a .422 slugging percentage. Brandon Lowe leads the Pirates with 21 home runs and 65 RBIs, while Nick Gonzales is batting .312 with 115 hits. Bryan Reynolds owns a .386 on-base percentage with 14 home runs, and Ryan O'Hearn has added 16 home runs and 64 RBIs. Pittsburgh continues to create scoring chances with consistent contact throughout the lineup.

The Pirates have matched that offense with solid pitching, recording a 4.23 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .238 batting average. Pittsburgh has piled up 954 strikeouts through 104 games, ranking among the league leaders in that category. The staff has been a major reason the Pirates remain in the National League Wild Card race despite their recent two-game skid.

Injuries: Spencer Horwitz (10-Day IL), Evan Sisk (15-Day IL), Endy Rodriguez (10-Day IL), Chris Devenski (60-Day IL), Rafael Flores Jr. (7-Day IL).

Pitching Matchup

Chicago Cubs – Jameson Taillon

Taillon is 2-5 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP across 72 innings. He has allowed 70 hits and 22 home runs while striking out 65 batters. Chicago needs Taillon to keep the ball in the park against one of the National League's top offensive teams.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Braxton Ashcraft

Ashcraft enters with a 9-4 record, a 3.95 ERA, and a 1.17 WHIP over 116.1 innings. He has surrendered 108 hits while striking out 130 batters and walking only 28. Ashcraft has provided Pittsburgh with consistent starts throughout the season.

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Game Pick

• Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh has the advantage with one of the league's strongest offenses and a reliable starter taking the mound in Braxton Ashcraft. The Pirates rank among the top teams in batting average and run production, while Chicago sends Jameson Taillon to the mound with a 5.38 ERA and 22 home runs allowed. Friday's extra-inning loss was a close battle, but Pittsburgh is in a favorable position to respond behind its deeper lineup and stronger starting pitching matchup.

Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Over/Under Pick

• Over

Both offenses have been productive throughout the season, with Pittsburgh scoring 545 runs and Chicago adding 523. Taillon has struggled to limit home runs, while the Pirates feature several hitters capable of taking advantage of mistakes in the strike zone. The Cubs have enough power throughout their lineup to contribute offensively, helping this game to cash over the total.