The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates meet again Saturday at PNC Park, and the marquee is all about arms. Pittsburgh hands the ball to ace Paul Skenes, fresh off an eight-strikeout gem, while Chicago counters with a red-hot Shota Imanaga. The Pirates sit as home favorites, yet a spacious ballpark and two starters in form point our headline lean toward a quiet scoreboard.
Last Updated: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates — Time & How to Watch
| Where | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| When | Saturday, July 25 — 6:40 PM ET |
| TV | SportsNet Pittsburgh / Marquee Sports Network |
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The pitching matchup carries this game. Pittsburgh starts Paul Skenes, one of the best right-handers in baseball. He owns a 3.43 ERA with a sparkling 2.81 FIP, 138 strikeouts against just 26 walks, and a .221 opponent average across 115.1 innings. He arrives on the heels of a dominant outing, striking out eight over seven innings in a 7-1 win over Cleveland on July 19.
Chicago answers with left-hander Shota Imanaga, and he has been rolling. Imanaga carries a 3.91 season ERA, but he has trimmed that to roughly 2.30 across his last seven starts. His most recent trip to the mound was a seven-inning shutout of Minnesota with just one walk. The one caveat is home runs. Imanaga has surrendered 22 long balls this season, among the most in the league, so mistakes over the plate can travel.
The Cubs enter at 58-45 and remain firmly in the playoff picture, chasing the division-leading Brewers in the NL Central. The Pirates sit at 53-51, hovering around .500. Chicago also took Friday’s opener 3-2, per the ESPN box score. On the injury front, Pittsburgh is without two regulars, with Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz both on the injured list, which thins an otherwise capable lineup.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | +1.5 (-180) | +119 | U 7.5 (+100) |
| Pirates | -1.5 (+155) | -142 | O 7.5 (-120) |
Odds accurate as of July 25, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Cubs | 35% | 65% | Pirates |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction — Will Two Arms Keep the Board Quiet?
Start with the run environment. Both starters are pitching well and both are fully rested, each having last thrown on July 19. Skenes has been elite all year, and Imanaga has been nearly as sharp over his recent run. PNC Park adds to the case. It is one of the more pitcher-friendly venues in the sport, with a deep outfield that holds fly balls and suppresses run scoring over the long haul. Two quality arms in a park that favors them is the textbook recipe for a lower-scoring night.
The market appears to agree. The total opened at 8 and has since dropped to 7.5, a move that reflects money leaning toward the under side. Getting even money on a number that has already come down adds value to the play. Pittsburgh also plays this game without Cruz and Horwitz, which trims some thump from the home lineup.
The counter is real. Imanaga’s home run problem is the clearest path to the over, and PNC still lets left-handed power reach the seats. Chicago’s lineup is deep, and even a shorthanded Pirates order can push runs against a mistake. Still, the weight of the signals — two rested, effective starters, a suppressing park, and a total that has moved down — points the same direction.
The Pick: Under 7.5 (+100)
Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction — Does the Road Team Have a Cushion?
If the game stays as tight as the pitching matchup suggests, the value shifts to the visitors with a cushion. Chicago is the better team on the season at 58-45, and it sends a starter who has been every bit as good as Skenes over the past month. Roughly 28% of MLB games are decided by a single run, and a low-scoring, competitive projection is exactly the setup where a run and a half of insurance matters.
The case against is the price and the pitcher. Laying -180 on the run line is steep, and it demands the game land close or in Chicago’s favor. Skenes is fully capable of a dominant start that lets Pittsburgh win by multiple runs and burn the +1.5. That is the risk you accept for the safety net. In a projection this tight, though, the cushion on the stronger overall club is the read we trust.
The Pick: Cubs Run Line +1.5 (-180)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
Both of our plays lean on the same read: a tight, low-scoring game between two starters in form. Watch the early innings closely. If Skenes settles in and Imanaga keeps the ball in the yard, the under and the Cubs cushion track together. The swing factor is Imanaga’s command, since his mistakes tend to leave the yard and one crooked number could flip both the total and the margin.
Late relief is the other variable. If either starter exits early, the bullpens take over and the run environment can climb, so the deeper both go, the better for the under. For a broader look at the day’s card, see today’s MLB predictions, and for the series backdrop, revisit our Friday Cubs-Pirates preview.
To recap the card for Saturday: Under 7.5 (+100) is the top play, with Cubs Run Line +1.5 (-180) as the supporting position. Both rest on a quiet, competitive night in Pittsburgh.
Cubs vs. Pirates FAQ: Saturday July 25, 2026
What time does the Cubs vs. Pirates game start?
First pitch is 6:40 PM ET on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. This is the middle contest of a three-game weekend series between the Cubs and Pirates, following Friday’s opener and ahead of Sunday’s afternoon finale.
What channel is the Cubs vs. Pirates game on?
The game airs on regional networks, with SportsNet Pittsburgh carrying the Pirates broadcast and Marquee Sports Network carrying the Cubs feed. It is not a national telecast. Local streaming is available through the regional sports network apps tied to each broadcaster.
Who is pitching for the Pirates on Saturday?
Right-hander Paul Skenes starts for Pittsburgh. He carries a 9-8 record with a 3.43 ERA, 138 strikeouts, and a 2.81 FIP over 115.1 innings. Skenes is coming off a seven-inning, eight-strikeout win over Cleveland on July 19 and pitches on regular rest.
Who is pitching for the Cubs on Saturday?
Left-hander Shota Imanaga starts for Chicago. He owns a 6-8 record with a 3.91 ERA on the season, though he has been sharper lately, posting roughly a 2.30 ERA over his last seven starts. His most recent outing was a seven-inning shutout of Minnesota with one walk.
Who won the last meeting between the Cubs and Pirates?
Chicago won the most recent meeting, taking Friday’s series opener 3-2 at PNC Park on July 24, 2026. The one-run result fit the low-scoring theme that has marked recent games between these two clubs and set up Saturday’s rematch with the marquee pitching duel.