Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction 7/24/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Cubs vs Pirates Prediction for this MLB matchup on Friday, July 24th in the opening game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 53-50 record this season and are sitting in the 4th place of the NL Central. They have a 27-24 home record and are coming off a 0-2 road loss against the Yankees. They will face the Dbacks and the Reds next.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a .261 batting average this season, .339 OBP and .424 Slugging percentage. Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has a 4.26 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. Nick Gonzales is the team’s best hitter with a .313 batting average. Brandon Lowe leads the team in RBI with 65, adding a team-high 21 home runs.

Jared Jones (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Pirates, and he has a 2-1 record, 4.05 ERA and 1.10 WHIP.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 57-45 record this season and are sitting in the 2nd place of the NL Central. They have a 27-23 away record and are coming off a 1-5 home loss against the Tigers. They will face the Cardinals and the Royals next.

The Chicago Cubs have a .245 batting average this season, .338 OBP and .413 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 4.27 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the team’s best hitter with a .282 batting average, adding a team-high 21 home runs. Dansby Swanson leads the team in RBI with 58.

Matthew Boyd (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and he has a 6-1 record, 4.15 ERA and 1.21 WHIP.

The Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Trends: July 24, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Jared Jones      Record this season: 2-1      ERA: 4.05
• Home Record: 0-0
• Last 5 against Cubs: 1-2

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

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

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Matthew Boyd      Record this season: 6-1      ERA: 4.15
• Road Record: 2-0
• Last 5 against Pirates: 1-1

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The Cubs have won 10 of their last 11 games as road underdogs against the Pirates.
• The Pirates have lost each of their last six games as favorites against the Cubs following a loss.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine Friday games.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in seven of their last eight road games.
• The Pirates have trailed after 3 innings in seven of their last nine night games against National League opponents.
• The Cubs have led after 5 innings in seven of their last nine night games against the Pirates.
• The Cubs have won the first inning in six of their last seven games.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Pirates’ last eight games as favorites against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Ten of the Cubs’ last 12 games as underdogs against the Pirates have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Cubs’ last seven games.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in seven of the Pirates’ last eight games.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Esmerlyn Valdez has hit at least one home run in five of the Pirates’ last six games against NL Central opponents.
• Jared Jones has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
• Marcell Ozuna has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances with the Pirates as favorites.
• Nick Gonzales ranks 4th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.313) this season.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Ian Happ has hit a home run in each of the Cubs’ last two games against the Pirates.
• Matthew Boyd has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances.
• Matthew Boyd has recorded six or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances with his team as an underdog against NL Central opponents.
• Alex Bregman has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous road appearances against the Pirates.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks T5th in the league in Steals (25) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Pirates rank 1st in the league for hits this season (933).
• The Pirates rank 1st in the league for hits this season (933).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (448).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for walks this season (448).

Cubs vs Pirates Prediction

Both teams are tied 4-4 in their last 8 meetings and the Cubs are 5-2 in their last 7 visits in Pittsburgh.

In this Cubs vs Pirates Prediction, the Pirates are coming as -120 home favorites. Jared Jones has been in excellent form for the Pirates, having given up just two runs across his last three starts, while Boyd has been unstable for the Cubs lately, having games with 4,3 and 5 earned runs in his last seven starts. The Pirates have the second-best offense in baseball and have been excellent against lefties in their last 10 games, so I expect them to get the job done at home in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates ML