- Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
- Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL
- Broadcast: Marquee Network
- Betting Odds: Pittsburgh (-144) Chicago (+120)
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (7-5) are set to take on the Chicago Cubs (6-6) this Friday at Wrigley Field. The moneyline has the Pirates favored at -144, while the Cubs stand at +120. The game total is fixed at 9 runs. Starting pitchers for this game will be Carmen Mlodzinski and Shota Imanaga.
The Pirates have been scoring an average of 4.5 runs per game, placing them 13th in Major League Baseball. They have accumulated a total of 54 runs with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .338. The team has hit 19 doubles and launched 12 home runs this season, generating 54 RBIs along with 100 hits, resulting in a batting average of .247. Pittsburgh’s slugging percentage stands at .383, with 101 strikeouts and 53 walks recorded thus far.
The Pirates hold a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.31 and maintain a WHIP of 1.30. Their pitchers have allowed 9 home runs and given up a total of 48 runs, which ranks 12th in the league. Pittsburgh has conceded 88 hits (7.3 per 9 innings) and has 40 earned runs. Their earned run average (ERA) is 3.33, placing them 8th in MLB, with their staff recording 120 strikeouts. The team’s walk count stands at 52, and their FIP is set at 3.60 for the season.
Through the season, Pirates pitchers have faced 11 situations with runners on base and appeared in 16 high-leverage scenarios. The bullpen has recorded 9 holds (9th in MLB) with a save rate of 66.7%, having faced 12 save opportunities. With 2 saves and one blown save out of three chances, the relievers have inherited 15 base runners this season, with 13.3% scoring. The Pirates have utilized 43 relievers throughout the season.
Pittsburgh has successfully converted 69.8% of balls in play into outs from their total of 972 innings, placing them 14th in baseball. The team has recorded 324 putouts, 88 assists, and made 6 errors, resulting in a fielding percentage of .986, which ranks 15th in the MLB. They have executed 9 double plays.
Mlodzinski has pitched a total of 194 innings in his MLB career, achieving 182 strikeouts. With a career win-loss record of 13-16, his FIP stands at 3.24. He has faced 821 batters, maintaining an ERA of 3.29 (allowing 71 earned runs) and a WHIP of 1.282, giving up 182 hits (8.4 hits per nine innings) and issuing 67 walks.
The Chicago Cubs, on the other hand, boast a team slugging percentage of .368, scoring 4.67 runs per game (10th in MLB). They have hit 18 doubles, walked 51 times, and accumulated 56 runs. This season, the Cubs have recorded 13 home runs and 51 RBIs. However, they have struck out 102 times (17th in the league) and have 87 hits, with a team OBP of .312 and a batting average of .223.
The Cubs’ pitching unit records a WHIP of 1.124 and has a FIP of 4.30. Their strikeout-to-walk ratio is 7.90 (92 strikeouts to 39 walks). They rank 4th in the league for the fewest hits allowed, with only 79 so far. The pitching staff has given up 13 home runs, permitting 3.77 runs per 9 innings (10th in MLB). Overall, the Cubs have allowed 44 runs, yielding a team ERA of 3.43 with 40 earned runs.
Chicago’s relief corps has an inherited score rate of 31.8% out of 22 inherited base runners and has entered games in 10 high-pressure situations with runners on base 13 times. In 6 save chances, the Cubs have secured 1 hold along with 3 blown saves. They sit 27th in the league with a save percentage of 40.0%, having deployed 36 relievers this season.
Defensively, the Cubs have turned 9 double plays and hold an impressive fielding percentage of .991 (8th in MLB). They’ve accumulated 112 assists, made 4 errors, and totaled 315 putouts in 945 innings for a defensive efficiency of 75.1% (2nd in professional baseball).
Imanaga, with a career record of 24-12, possesses a 3.32 ERA, allowing 7.5 hits per 9 innings. His strikeout-to-walk ratio is 5.30, having faced 1,302 batters throughout his career. He has conceded 121 earned runs, registered a WHIP of 1.012, and his FIP sits at 3.30. In his career, Imanaga has surrendered 275 hits while accumulating 302 strikeouts across 328 innings pitched.
Which team will emerge victorious in tonight’s MLB matchup against the spread or moneyline?
Recommendation: Back Pittsburgh (-144)
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