Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs
Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Broadcast: Marquee Network
Betting Odds: Pittsburgh (+106) Chicago (-128)
The Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71) are traveling to Wrigley Field this Sunday to compete against the Chicago Cubs (68-52). Betting odds place Pittsburgh at +106 and Chicago at -128, with a total set at 9 runs. Starting pitchers are anticipated to be Andrew Heaney and Javier Assad.
The Pirates currently maintain a slugging percentage of .346 and have been struck out 1,054 times, while accumulating 388 walks. They have produced 418 runs batted in and 942 hits this season, bringing their batting average to .232. The squad has compiled 168 doubles and launched 86 home runs. With 432 runs scored, their on-base percentage sits at .304. As a team, the Pirates are averaging 3.5 runs per game, placing them last in the league.
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With a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.64, the pitching staff holds a combined WHIP of 1.24. Pirates pitchers have given up 122 home runs and a total of 517 runs (14th in the league). Pittsburgh has allowed 979 hits (8.2 hits per nine innings) and 486 earned runs. This season, the Pirates possess a team ERA of 4.06, ranking 17th overall, while their pitching staff has recorded 947 strikeouts. They’ve walked 359 batters, with a collective FIP of 3.97.
The Pirates’ bullpen has achieved a save rate of 56.8% in 100 save situations. Relief pitchers have inherited 177 baserunners this season, yielding a 36.7% scoring rate. The relief squad has faced batters with runners on base 112 times and participated in 118 high-leverage scenarios. This season, the Pirates have utilized 379 relievers, earning 54 holds (25th in the league) and 25 saves, with 19 blown saves out of 44 opportunities.
In 9,693 defensive innings, the Pirates converted 70.8% of balls in play into outs, ranking 10th league-wide. This season, the Pirates have tallied 3,231 putouts, 1,009 assists, and 56 errors. Their fielding percentage of .987 sits at 11th within professional baseball, and they’ve executed 87 double plays.
Heaney has pitched 1,133 innings, accumulating 1,153 strikeouts over his MLB career. With a win-loss record of 56-72, Heaney’s FIP stands at 4.44, having faced 4,843 batters. His earned run average is 4.51 (568 earned runs allowed), complemented by a career WHIP of 1.271. He has conceded 1,103 hits (8.8 hits per nine innings) and issued 337 walks.
The Cubs carry a team slugging percentage of .434 and average 5.04 runs per game, ranking 4th in MLB. They have achieved 199 doubles, collected 403 walks, and scored 605 runs. The team has also hit 170 home runs and accounted for 589 RBIs. They’ve struck out 933 times (27th overall) and accrued 1,036 hits, while their OBP sits at .321 and batting average at .252 this season.
With a team WHIP of 1.207, the Cubs maintain a collective FIP of 4.19. They stand 12th in total hits allowed with 978. The Cubs’ pitching lineup has yielded 490 runs this season, resulting in an ERA of 3.86 (with 456 earned runs). Their K/BB ratio is an impressive 7.70 (906 strikeouts to 306 walks), having allowed 149 home runs while giving up 4.14 runs per nine innings (7th in MLB).
The Cubs have used bullpen arms in 40 save opportunities, securing 27 saves and ranking 6th with a 67.5% save rate. They’ve deployed 391 relief pitchers throughout the season, who have appeared in 111 high-leverage scenarios and 81 innings with runners on base. The inherited score rate stands at 31.0% from 113 inherited runners. In total, the Cubs have achieved 78 holds and incurred 13 blown saves out of 121 save situations.
In their 9,582 innings defensively, the Cubs have an efficiency rate of 71.4% (3rd in pro baseball). They have executed 95 double plays, maintaining a .988 fielding percentage (7th). The team has recorded 1,002 assists, made 50 errors, and achieved 3,194 putouts this season.
Assad has conceded 279 hits in his career, totaling 250 strikeouts over 298 innings. He has allowed 115 earned runs while holding a WHIP of 1.356 and maintaining a FIP of 3.40. His career strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 2.00, having faced 1,274 batters. Assad holds a win-loss record of 14-12 and a 3.47 ERA, allowing 8.4 hits per nine innings.
Who prevails in tonight’s MLB matchup against the spread or moneyline?
Guy Bruhn’s Prediction: Back Pittsburgh (+106)
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