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Chi. Cubs (58-45) at Pittsburgh (53-51)
- When: Jul 25 2026, 6:40 PM
- Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
- TV: SportsNet PT
Chi. Cubs vs Pittsburgh MLB Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Pittsburgh -138
Runline: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+160)
Total: 7.5
The Pittsburgh Pirates are slight favorites at -138, but let’s be honest—backing Pittsburgh always comes with a complimentary stress test. Saturday’s showdown features two talented starters, so expect every run to feel like it required congressional approval.
Ace Time
Paul Skenes (9-8, 3.43 ERA) looks like he finally remembered he’s a Cy Young winner. After suffering through a brutal nine-start winless stretch, he’s rattled off three straight victories, allowing just five runs over 18 1/3 innings while striking out 19 batters. If he keeps collecting quick outs, Cubs hitters might be making dinner reservations by the fifth inning.
Lefty Challenge
Chicago counters with Shota Imanaga (6-8, 3.91 ERA), who tossed seven scoreless innings against Minnesota in his last outing. The biggest improvement? The baseball has stopped leaving the yard every other inning. He’s also dominated Pittsburgh throughout his career, posting a sparkling 2-0 record with a 0.28 ERA in 32 innings over five starts.
Bats Need Coffee
The Cubs stole Friday’s opener 3-2 thanks to Dansby Swanson’s clutch RBI single and Seiya Suzuki’s bases-loaded walk. Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to supply the fireworks after crushing his 22nd home run of the season.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh desperately needs Bryan Reynolds to wake up. He’s just 1-for-22 with 12 strikeouts over his last five games after going hitless in the series opener. That’s not exactly the kind of stat line you frame on the wall.
LVSB Prediction
This feels like another low-scoring duel between two quality starters, but Skenes has rediscovered his dominance at the perfect time. Pittsburgh’s offense doesn’t need to explode—it just needs to score before everyone in the stadium falls asleep watching pitchers deal.
Final Score: Pirates 4, Cubs 2
Lean: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+160)
Total: Under 7.5 (+100)
- MLB Baseball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
