Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Use Code WWWC A pair of National League Central teams on opposite sides of the playoff cut line continue a series on the diamond in search of a win in the Steel City as the Chicago Cubs are on the road as they play the middle game of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates Tuesday evening and we have you covered with our Cubs vs. Pirates prediction. Chicago picked up a 4-3 win in the rubber game of a three-game set against the Rays at home in interleague action Sunday afternoon. Pittsburgh dropped the rubber game of a three-game weekend series with Washington on the road, falling 4-3 Sunday afternoon. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the opening game of the series at PNC Park Monday evening. Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks! Read more about this Cubs vs. Pirates prediction!
Cubs Moving Closer to Clinching Playoff Berth
Chicago won for the fourth time in five games as they downed Tampa Bay in the rubber game of an interleague set at home Sunday afternoon. The Cubs entered Monday 85-64 and stood second in the NL Central, 5.5 games behind the Brewers for the top spot. They owned the top wild card spot in the National League and were nine games clear of the Reds to remain in playoff position. Against the Rockies Friday, Chicago banged out 10 hits with Nico Hoerner (three RBI), Ian Happ (run, RBI) and Moises Ballesteros each picking up a pair to lead the way. Ian Happ (his 22nd) went deep in the victory for the Cubs. Shota Imanaga threw five innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with no walks and nine strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Javier Assad (3-1) earned the win with 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with two walks and one strikeout. Andrew Kittredge worked a scoreless ninth, allowing no hits with one walk and three strikeouts, for his fifth save.
Cade Horton takes the mound for the Cubs as he makes his 22nd appearance, 21st start, in this contest. He is 10-4 with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.109 WHIP, 32 walks and 89 strikeouts over 110 innings of work this season. Horton picked up the win in his last start, which came Tuesday on the road against the Braves. He threw 6.1 innings, allowing one runs on four hits with no walks and two strikeouts in a game the Cubs won 6-1. In his last three starts, Horton is 2-0 with a 1.65 ERA, a 0.80 WHIP, three walks and 12 strikeouts over 16.1 innings of work. Horton didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career start against the Pirates, which came at Wrigley Field June 13. He threw 5.2 scoreless innings, allowing three hits with one walk and four strikeouts in a game the Cubs dropped 2-1 in 10 innings. Horton, in his 22nd career major league appearance and 21st start, pitches at PNC Park for the first time here.
Pittsburgh Playing Out the String on Another Lost Season
Pittsburgh fell for the eighth time in nine games as they were beaten in the rubber game of a three-game series with the Nationals on the road Sunday afternoon. The Pirates entered Monday 65-85 and sat in the basement of the NL Central, 26 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot. They were 12 games behind the Mets for the final wild card spot in the NL playoff picture. On Sunday against Washington, Pittsburgh finished with five hits as Oneil Cruz was the lone player with two. The Pirates were one of nine with runners in scoring position and left nine men on base in the game. Mike Burrows threw 4.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts, but didn’t factor in the decision. Isaac Mattson (3-3) took the loss in relief, allowing one run (none earned) on one hit with one walk and one strikeout in two innings of work.
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Paul Skenes gets the call for the Pirates as he makes his 31st start of the season in this contest. He is 10-9 with a 1.92 ERA, a 0.921 WHIP, 39 walks and 203 strikeouts over 178 innings of work on the year. Skenes didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came Wednesday on the road against the Orioles. He threw five innings, allowing no runs on two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in a game the Pirates went on to drop 2-1 in 10 innings. In his last three starts, Skenes is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP, two walks and 22 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Skenes makes his seventh career start against the Cubs in this contest. He is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA, a 1.267 WHIP, 14 walks and 37 strikeouts over 30 innings of work against them. Skenes is 12-5 with a 1.98 ERA, a 0.935 WHIP, 33 walks and 176 strikeouts over 159.1 innings of action in 26 career starts at PNC Park.
Cubs vs. Pirates Pick
Moneyline Pick for Cubs vs. Pirates
- Cubs (4 units)
This is a matchup of a pair of young pitchers that have been stellar in their short time in the majors. Skenes won NL Rookie of the Year last season and is a frontrunner for the NL Cy Young this year. Horton is in contention for the NL Rookie of the Year this season and has helped stabilize a Cubs’ rotation that has dealt with their share of injuries this season. In 10 starts since the All-Star break. Horton is 7-1 with a 0.84 ERA, a 0.788 WHIP, 14 walks and 46 strikeouts over 53.1 innings of work. Skenes is good at keeping opposing lineups in check, though his shorter outings means their bullpen will play a role here. Given how the Pirates struggle to score runs, give the advantage to the visitors here.
Over/Under Pick for Cubs vs. Pirates
- Under (5 units)
Chicago is seventh in the majors by averaging 4.88 runs per game while they allow an average of 4.06 runs per game, giving them an average of 8.94 runs per game. That number bumps slightly to 5.04 runs away from Wrigley Field, while they allow 4.14 runs, giving them an average total of 9.18 runs per game away from the Friendly Confines. The Cubs have seen the under post a 70-67-12 mark on the season entering Monday. Pittsburgh has seen the under post an 85-60-5 mark on the year heading into Monday night’s action. The Pirates are 30th in the majors with 3.60 runs per game and that number climbs to 3.91 runs per game at PNC Park. Pittsburgh has an average total of 7.67 runs per game but that number slips to 7.62 runs per game at home. We’ve seen the under post a 7-1-2 mark in the last 10 meetings and with two good arms on the mound, this game winds up short of the number.
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