The Chicago Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Saturday, August 16, 2025, in a game that has significant implications for both clubs. The Cubs are looking to maintain their momentum towards the playoffs, while the Pirates aim to spoil their opponents’ plans while building towards future years. The game features a pitching matchup between Chicago’s Shota Imanaga and Pittsburgh’s Mike Burrows, with the Cubs being considered the clear favorites.
Yesterday, the Cubs lost the game unfortunately!
Key Matchup Details
Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates x Chicago Cubs
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
First Pitch: 2:20 p.m. ET
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast: Fox Sports 1, MARQ, SportsNet PT
Betting Odds and Predictions
The Cubs are big favorites to win this game, with moneyline odds of approximately -225 to -230. The Pirates are underdogs at +188 to +190. The run line is Cubs -1.5, with odds of the Cubs being favored at -115. The over/under total is 9.
Moneyline: Cubs (-229) vs. Pirates (+188)
Run Line: Cubs -1.5 (-115) vs. Pirates +1.5 (-105)
Total: Over 9 (-115) vs. Under 9 (-105)
Team Form and Statistics
The Cubs are in good recent form, having won seven of their last ten matches. They have the fifth-ranked offense in MLB, scoring an average of five runs per game, and they have a good team ERA of 3.85. Some of the standouts on offense are Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Nico Hoerner.
The Pirates, meanwhile, have been struggling, having won just four of their previous ten games. Their offense is worst in all of MLB in home runs and runs scored. Though there are promising players such as Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, there is a lack of offensive depth. Their bullpen has also been a soft spot, sitting close to the bottom of ERA. Pitching Matchup Analysis
Chicago will likely begin Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19 ERA), a model of consistency for the Cubs. Pittsburgh will send Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.66 ERA) to the mound, a young hurler with flashes of brilliance but also inconsistency, especially away from home.
Expert Picks and Betting Tips
The majority of analysts prefer the Cubs to take this game, pointing to their better offense, better pitching, and home-field advantage. The Cubs -1.5 run line is a good value bet, based on the bullpen issues of the Pirates and the recent offense of the Cubs. Some also prefer the over on 9 total runs, expecting the Cubs offense to take advantage and possibly feast on the Pirates’ bullpen.
Predicted Result: Cubs 5, Pirates 3
Best Bets: Cubs -1.5 (Run Line), Over 9 Runs
Key People to Watch
Cubs: Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Nico Hoerner, Shota Imanaga.
Pirates: Bryan Reynolds, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mike Burrows
Injury Report
Both teams have a number of players on the injured list, such as Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon for the Cubs, and Oneil Cruz and Jared Jones for the Pirates. These injuries might affect team performance.
Let´s Go Cubs!
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