Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Prediction for Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Use Code WWWC A pair of National League Central teams on opposite sides of the playoff cut line close out 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 finale of a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday afternoon and we have you covered with our Cubs vs. Pirates prediction. In the opening game of the series Monday night, the Cubs picked up a 4-0 victory to draw first blood in the set. Which team earns the win here on getaway day? This article was published prior to the conclusion of the middle game of the series at PNC Park Tuesday evening. Don’t go down on strikes! Increase your bankroll with our MLB Betting Picks! Read more about this Cubs vs. Pirates prediction!
Cubs Looking to Leave Town With Series Win
Chicago won for the fifth time in six games as it blanked Pittsburgh in the series opener Monday night. The Cubs entered Tuesday 86-64 and stood second in the NL Central, 5 games behind the Brewers for the top spot. They owned the top wild card spot in the National League and were 10.5 games clear of the Diamondbacks to remain in playoff position. Against the Pirates on Monday, Chicago banged out nine hits with Dansby Swanson (RBI) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (two runs, RBI) each picking up a pair to lead the way. Michael Busch (his 28th) and Crow-Armstrong (his 29th) each went deep in the win. Jameson Taillon (10-6) earned the win as he threw six shutout frames, allowing two hits with two walks and three strikeouts, before departing. Brad Keller fanned Jared Triolo with the bases loaded to earn his second save of the year.
Matthew Boyd gets the call for the Cubs as he makes his 30th start of the season in this contest. He is 13-8 with a 3.05 ERA, a 1.074 WHIP, 39 walks and 146 strikeouts over 171.1 innings of work this season. Boyd earned the win in his last start, which came Friday at home against the Rays. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout in a 6-4 Cubs victory. In his last three starts, Boyd is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, three walks and nine strikeouts over 18 innings of work. Boyd makes his eighth career start against the Pirates in this contest. He is 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA, a 1.459 WHIP, 12 walks and 37 strikeouts over 36.1 innings of work against them. Boyd is 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA, a 2.308 WHIP, 10 walks and 19 strikeouts over 17.1 innings of work in four career starts at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh Hoping to Earn Home Win in Finale
Pittsburgh fell for the ninth time in 10 games as they were beaten in the opening game of a three-game series with the Cubs at home Monday night. The Pirates entered Tuesday 65-86 and sat in the basement of the NL Central, 26.5 games behind Milwaukee for the top spot. They have been eliminated from playoff contention. Against Chicago Monday night, Pittsburgh finished with only three hits, with no players having more than one. The Pirates went zero of five with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base in the contest. Braxton Ashcraft (4-3) took the loss as he allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over four innings of work.
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Johan Oviedo is on the mound for the Pirates as he makes his seventh start of the season in this contest. He is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA, a 1.169 WHIP, 14 walks and 29 strikeouts over 25.2 innings of work. Oviedo didn’t factor in the decision in his last start, which came against the Orioles on the road Thursday. He threw 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a 3-2 Pirates defeat. In his last three starts, Oviedo is 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, nine walks and 15 strikeouts over 15.2 innings of work. Oviedo makes his 11th career appearance, 10th start, against the Cubs in this contest. He is 2-4 with a 3.67 ERA, a 1.327 WHIP, 16 walks and 44 strikeouts over 49 innings of work against them. Oviedo is 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA, a 1.215 WHIP, 45 walks and 96 strikeouts over 108.2 innings of work in 21 career starts at PNC Park.
Cubs vs. Pirates Pick
Moneyline Pick for Cubs vs. Pirates
- Cubs (4 units)
Boyd has struggled since the All-Star break, but part of that is because he has thrown more innings this season than he did in 2022-24 combined. It’s his most innings in a season since he threw 185.1 frames for the Tigers back in 2019 and he surpassed his career-high in wins as well. Pittsburgh continues to struggle as their lineup is the league’s worst in runs per game this season. The Pirates have been blanked 16 times and have scored two runs or less in 65 games this season. Boyd handcuffs the Bucs and the Cubs earn the win here to take the series.
Over/Under Pick for Cubs vs. Pirates
- Under (5 units)
Chicago is seventh in the majors by averaging 4.87 runs per game, while they allow an average of 4.03 runs per game, giving them an average of 8.90 runs per game. That number bumps slightly to 5.03 runs away from Wrigley Field, while they allow 4.09 runs, giving them an average total of 9.12 runs per game away from the Friendly Confines. The Cubs have seen the under post a 71-67-12 mark on the season entering Tuesday. Pittsburgh has seen the under post an 86-60-5 mark on the year heading into Tuesday night’s action. The Pirates are 30th in the majors with 3.58 runs per game and that number climbs to 3.86 runs per game at PNC Park. Pittsburgh has an average total of 7.64 runs per game but that number slips to 7.57 runs per game at home. After we saw only four runs in the opener, the under is 8-1-2 in the 11 meetings between the teams this season. Don’t expect fireworks here either and roll with the under here on getaway day.
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