Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets

The Chicago Cubs will take the field against the Pittsburgh Pirates (21-26) on Sunday. The game begins at 2:20 PM ET on MARQ, with the Cubs listed as -122 favorites on the moneyline.

Jameson Taillon will get the ball for Chicago while Pittsburgh will counter with Mitch Keller.

Cubs vs. Pirates Odds

Cubs odds to win: -122
Pirates odds to win: +104
Spread: Cubs -1.5
Total: 7.5 runs

Cubs vs. Pirates Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

Date: Sunday, May 19, 2024
Time: 2:20 PM ET
TV: MARQ

Who Will Win Cubs vs. Pirates?

Cubs and Pirates Betting Trends

The Cubs are 12-7 in games they were favored on the moneyline (winning 63.2% of those games).

Chicago has gone 10-3 when playing as moneyline favorites with odds of -122 or shorter (76.9% winning percentage).

The Pirates have won 14, or 50%, of the 28 games they’ve played as underdogs this season.

Pittsburgh has entered 17 games this season as the underdog by +104 or more and is 9-8 in those contests.

The Cubs have played in 47 games with a set over/under, and have combined with their opponents to go over the total 20 times (20-25-2).

The Pirates’ games have gone over the total in 22 of their 47 chances.

Cubs Stats & Insights

The Cubs have the No. 11 offense in MLB play scoring 4.5 runs per game (210 total runs).

Chicago averages one home run per game to rank 12th in baseball with 48 total home runs .

The Cubs have the 20th-ranked batting average in the majors (.233).

Chicago strikes out 8.8 times per game to rank 23rd in the majors.

The Cubs pitching staff ranks eighth in the majors with a collective 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings.

Chicago has the 11th-ranked team ERA among all MLB pitching staffs (3.71).

Pirates Stats & Insights

The Pirates have scored the 24th-most runs in the league this season with 177 (3.8 per game).

Pittsburgh’s 44 home runs rank 16th in Major League Baseball.

The Pirates rank 26th in MLB with a team batting average of just .225.

Pittsburgh ranks 27th in strikeouts per game (9.4) among MLB offenses.

The Pirates have an 8.7 K/9 this season as a pitching staff, 10th-best in baseball.

Pittsburgh pitchers have a combined ERA of 3.95 ERA this year, which ranks 13th in MLB.

Cubs Key Players to Watch

Taillon (3-1 with a 1.61 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings pitched) gets the start for the Cubs, his sixth of the season.

Christopher Morel is batting .217 this season with a team-high nine home runs and 32 RBI.

Nico Hoerner leads Chicago in batting with a .269 average while slugging two homers and driving in 12 runs.

Cody Bellinger has collected 34 base hits, an OBP of .342 and a slugging percentage of .488 this season.

Mike Tauchman is batting .257 with an OBP of .375 and a slugging percentage of .407 this season.

Pirates Key Players to Watch

Keller (4-3) will take to the mound for the Pirates and make his 10th start of the season.

Connor Joe leads the Pirates in runs batted in (22) and has put up a team-high batting average of .288.

Bryan Reynolds is batting .254 with 12 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 24 walks.

Oneil Cruz has racked up a team-best seven home runs.

Andrew McCutchen is batting .208 with three doubles, six home runs and 19 walks.

Cubs and Pirates Injuries

Cubs: Dansby Swanson: 10 Day IL (Knee), Drew Smyly: 15 Day IL (Hip), Jordan Wicks: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Yency Almonte: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Colten Brewer: 15 Day IL (Back), Keegan Thompson: 15 Day IL (Illness), Daniel Palencia: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Adbert Alzolay: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Julian Merryweather: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Caleb Kilian: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Nico Hoerner: day-to-day (Hamstring)

Pirates: Ke’Bryan Hayes: 10 Day IL (Back), Marco Gonzales: 15 Day IL (Forearm), Ryan Borucki: 15 Day IL (Left triceps inflammation), Dauri Moreta: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Johan Oviedo: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Jason Delay: 60 Day IL (Knee), Endy Rodriguez: 60 Day IL (Elbow)