Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction 9/13/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Pirates vs Cubs Prediction for this MLB matchup on Sunday, September 13th in the third game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Chicago Cubs Preview

The Chicago Cubs have a 83-66 record this season and are sitting in the 2nd place of the NL Central. They have a 43-31 home record and are coming off a 4-3 home win against the Pirates. They will face the Braves and the Reds next.

The Chicago Cubs have a .252 batting average this season, .340 OBP and .431 Slugging percentage. Chicago’s pitching staff has a 4.19 ERA and 1.27 WHIP. Pete Crow-Armstrong is the team’s best hitter with a .279 batting average, leading the team in RBI with 98, adding a team-high 41 home runs.

Matthew Boyd (L) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cubs, and he has a 8-4 record, 4.03 ERA and 1.22 WHIP.

Pittsburgh Pirates Preview

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a 74-75 record this season and are sitting in the 3rd place of the NL Central. They have a 36-41 away record and are coming off a 3-4 road loss against the Cubs. They will face the Brewers and the Royals next.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a .253 batting average this season, .330 OBP and .401 Slugging percentage. Pittsburgh’s pitching staff has a 4.18 ERA and 1.30 WHIP. Nick Gonzales is the team’s best hitter with a .305 batting average. Brandon Lowe leads the team in RBI with 83, adding a team-high 29 home runs.

Bubba Chandler (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Pirates, and he has a 7-9 record, 4.25 ERA and 1.34 WHIP.

Pittsburgh Pirates @ the Chicago Cubs Betting Trends: September 13, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Matthew Boyd      Record this season: 8-4      ERA: 4.03
• Home Record: 5-2
• Last 5 against Pirates: 1-1

Why the Chicago Cubs will win

• The home team has won each of the Cubs’ last six games.
• The Pirates have lost seven of their last eight day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have covered the run line in six of their last seven day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in four of their last five games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• The Pirates have trailed after 5 innings in seven of their last eight day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• The Cubs have led after 3 innings in each of their last six home games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• The Cubs have won the first inning in six of their last seven day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Bubba Chandler      Record this season: 7-9      ERA: 4.25
• Road Record: 3-6
• Last 5 against Cubs: 0-0

Why the Pittsburgh Pirates will win

• The Cubs have lost four of their last five games as home favorites against NL Central opponents following a win.
• The Pirates have won seven of their last 10 games as road underdogs against the Cubs following a loss.
• The Pirates have covered the run line in each of their last 10 road games against the Cubs following a loss.
• The Cubs have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 10 games as home favorites following a win.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Cubs’ last eight games as favorites against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Seven of the Pirates’ last eight games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in seven of the Cubs’ last eight games as favorites against NL Central opponents.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of the Pirates’ last five games against NL opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Pete Crow-Armstrong has hit at least one home run in five of the Cubs’ last six home games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Matthew Boyd has recorded six or more strikeouts in three of his last four home appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
• Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances against opponents that held a losing record.
• Matthew Boyd has recorded a win in three of his last four appearances in day games against teams that held a losing record.
• Pete Crow-Armstrong ranks 2nd in the league in Home Runs (41) this season.

Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts

• Bubba Chandler has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last five appearances against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
• Spencer Horwitz has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances in day games against teams that held a winning record.
• Ryan O’Hearn has hit a home run in each of his last two appearances against the Cubs after playing the previous day.
• Nick Gonzales ranks 5th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.305) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (796).
• The Cubs rank 1st in the league for home runs this season (206).
• The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (1293).
• The Pirates rank 2nd in the league for home runs allowed this season (144).

Pirates vs Cubs Prediction

The Cubs are 6-1 in their last 7 meetings against the Pirates and have won their last three meetings in Chicago.

In this Pirates vs Cubs Prediction, the Cubs are coming as -140 home favorites. This total is way too low even with winds blowing in at 10+ mph. Boyd has been in bad form with 3+ runs in four of his last five starts and has been weaker at home with a 5.40 home ERA, while Chandler has a 4.23 road ERA. Both teams average 9.7 runs per game combined in their last 5 games and the Pirates’ bullpen has a 6.52 ERA in that span. This total is too low, so take the over 6.5 in this one.  

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Over 6.5