Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 5/26/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Cubs vs Pirates Prediction for this MLB matchup on Tuesday, May 26th in the second game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 28-26 record this season and are sitting in the fifth place of the NL Central. They have a 14-13 home record and are coming off a 2-1 home win against the Cubs. They will face the Twins and the Astros next.

The Pirates have a .249 batting average this season, .331 OBP and .386 Slugging percentage. Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has a 3.79 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Nick Gonzales is the team’s best hitter with a .301 batting average. Oneil Cruz leads the team in RBI with 34, while Brandon Lowe adds a team-high 13 home runs.

Braxton Ashcraft (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Pirates, and he has a 3-2 record, 2.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 29-25 record this season and are sitting in the third place of the NL Central. They have a 11-14 away record and are coming off a 1-2 road defeat against the Pirates. They will face the Cardinals and the Athletics next.

The Cubs have a .237 batting average this season, .334 OBP and .387 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 4.09 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. Alex Bregman is the team’s best hitter with a .255 batting average. Nico Hoerner leads the team in RBI with 31, while Ian Happ adds a team-high 10 home runs.

Jordan Wicks (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and last season he had a 6.28 ERA and 1.74 WHIP.

The Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends: May 26, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Braxton Ashcraft      Record this season: 3-2      ERA: 2.89
• Home Record: 1-1
• Last 5 against Cubs: 0-1

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cubs have lost each of their last nine games.
• The Pirates have won each of their last four home games against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine games.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last four games against the Cubs.
• The Pirates have won the first inning in three of their last four games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last six games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four games against opponents that held a winning record.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Jordan Wicks      Record this season: –      ERA: –
• Road Record: –
• Last 5 against Pirates: 1-0

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Cubs have won each of their last eight games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last nine games against the Cubs following a home win.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last eight games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six night games following a home win.
• The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last six night games against the Pirates.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Cubs’ last four games as underdogs have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Pirates’ last seven games as favorites against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last six road games against National League opponents.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Braxton Ashcraft’s last four home appearances as a starter.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bryan Reynolds has hit a home run in three of the Pirates’ last four games as home favorites against the Cubs.
• Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances with his team as a favorite against the Cubs.
• Oneil Cruz is one of only two players to record 10+ Home Runs and 10+ Stolen Bases this season.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Seiya Suzuki has hit a home run in each of the Cubs’ last two games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 road appearances.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (467).
• The Pirates rank 29th in the league for strikeouts against this season (503).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (246).
• The Cubs rank 29th in the league for home runs allowed this season (74).

Cubs vs Pirates Prediction

The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 meetings against the Pirates and 3-1 in their last 4 visits in Pittsburgh.

In this Cubs vs Pirates Prediction, the Pirates are coming as -130 home favorites. The Cubs cannot catch a break and have now won nine straight. They are going for a bullpen game today and will face a very good Braxton Ashcraft, who has just one earned run in three of his last four starts and his previous start against the Cubs was a quality one. The Cubs are also dead last against right-handed pitching in the past couple of weeks, so take the Pirates once again to get the job done at home.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates ML