Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
Broadcast: Marquee Network
Betting Odds: Pittsburgh (+162) Chicago (-196)
Wrigley Field will host an exciting matchup as the Chicago Cubs (68-51) face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (51-71) this Friday. The moneyline for this matchup places the Pirates at +162, while the Cubs come in at -196. The total runs projected for the game is set at 9. Pitching for each team will be Braxton Ashcraft and Colin Rea.
The Pirates have a slugging percentage of .346 and have been struck out 1,054 times while drawing 388 walks. They’ve scored 418 RBIs and amassed 942 hits this season, yielding a batting average of .232. Collectively, the Pirates have hit 168 doubles and launched 86 home runs. They are averaging 3.5 runs per game, which ranks them 30th in the league.
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The Pirates maintain a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.64 and their pitching staff showcases a team WHIP of 1.24. They have surrendered 122 home runs and 517 runs (15th in MLB). Additionally, Pittsburgh has given up 979 hits (averaging 8.2 per 9 innings) and recorded 486 earned runs. Their team ERA stands at 4.06 for the year (ranked 17th in the league), with 947 strikeouts generated. They’ve also issued 359 walks and their FIP is 3.97 on the season.
This season, the Pirates have called upon 379 relief pitchers. The bullpen has inherited 177 base runners, with 36.7% scoring. They’ve recorded 25 saves while failing to convert 19 of 44 save opportunities. The save rate for the Pirates’ bullpen is at 56.8%, having entered 100 save situations. The relief corps has achieved 54 holds this season, ranking 25th in the league. Pirates relievers have entered the game during 112 occasions with runners on base, along with 118 high-leverage appearances.
Up to this point, the Pittsburgh Pirates have completed 3,231 putouts, 1,009 assists, and committed 56 errors. Their fielding percentage is at .987, placing them 11th overall in MLB, and they have successfully turned 87 double plays. The Pirates have converted 70.8% of balls in play into outs throughout 9,693 innings, ranking them 10th among professional baseball teams.
Ashcraft (career record of 3-2) holds a FIP of 3.18 after facing 159 batters. He has allowed 37 hits (averaging 9.2 hits per 9 innings) with 13 walks issued. His current ERA is 3.23 (having allowed 13 earned runs), with a WHIP of 1.381. Over 36 innings pitched, Ashcraft has recorded 33 strikeouts throughout his professional career.
The Cubs have achieved a SLG% of .435 and are averaging 5.08 runs per game (ranked 3rd in MLB). They’ve accumulated 196 doubles, drawn 401 walks, and scored a staggering 604 runs. So far, Chicago has hit 169 home runs with 588 RBIs. However, they’ve struck out 924 times (27th in MLB) and gathered 1,030 hits. The Cubs boast a team OBP of .321 and a batting average of .252 for the season.
As a pitching unit, the Cubs possess a team WHIP of 1.212 and a FIP of 4.20. They have an impressive K/BB ratio of 7.70 (900 strikeouts versus 305 walks) and ranks 13th in total hits allowed, with 975. The pitching staff has yielded 148 home runs and 4.16 runs per 9 innings (ranking 7th in MLB). The Cubs’ rotation has surrendered 488 runs this year, resulting in an ERA of 3.87 (with 454 earned runs allowed).
Chicago’s bullpen has appeared in 40 save opportunities, successfully converting 27 saves. They rank 6th in Major League Baseball with a 67.5% save percentage, utilizing 390 relievers this season. The relief pitching core has logged 111 appearances in high-pressure situations and faced runners on base in 81 instances. The Cubs’ relievers have recorded a 31.0% inherited scoring rate from 113 inherited base runners. In 121 save scenarios, the Cubs bullpen has attained 78 holds and experienced 13 blown saves.
Over 9,510 innings played, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency rating of 71.3% (4th in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have executed 94 double plays and sport a fielding percentage of .988 (7th in MLB). They have achieved 3,170 putouts, 991 assists, and have committed 50 errors this season.
Rea (career record of 35-25) has an ERA of 4.48, allowing 8.8 hits per nine innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio stands at 2.67 after facing 2,394 opposing batters throughout his career. He has surrendered 280 earned runs while retaining a WHIP of 1.282 and a FIP of 4.4. To date, Rea has allowed 552 hits and registered 451 strikeouts in 562 innings pitched.
Who do you think will triumph in tonight’s MLB showdown against the spread or on the moneyline?
Guy Bruhn’s Prediction: Take Pittsburgh (+162)
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