Check today’s Pirates vs. Cubs prediction here. The Pittsburgh Pirates (12-19) and Chicago Cubs (18-13) wrap up their three-game series on Thursday, May 1, at 12:35 p.m. ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Both clubs have seen flashes of strong offense and standout pitching recently, setting the stage for a compelling rubber match.
Pittsburgh will send rookie ace Paul Skenes to the mound, coming off a dominant outing against the Dodgers. Meanwhile, Colin Rea looks to continue his impressive run for the Cubs after tossing five shutout innings in his last start. With Chicago’s recent power surge and the Pirates’ home-field advantage, this one’s got all the ingredients for a tight, high-energy finish.
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📺 Where To Watch Pirates vs. Cubs? (May 1, 2025)
| Detail | Info |
| Date | Thursday, May 1, 2025 |
| Time | 12:35 p.m. ET |
| Location | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| TV | SportsNet PT, MARQ |
| Streaming | Fubo (regional restrictions apply) |
💰 Betting Odds
| Market | Pirates | Cubs |
| Moneyline | -147 | +123 |
| Run Line | -1.5 (+150) | +1.5 (-180) |
| Total Runs | 7.5 (O -109 / U -111) |
🧢 Starting Pitcher Matchup
| Pitcher | Team | Record | ERA | K/9 | WHIP | Last Start |
| Paul Skenes | Pirates | 3-2 | 2.39 | 10.0 | 0.796 | 6.1 IP, 0 ER vs. Dodgers |
| Colin Rea | Cubs | 1-0 | 0.96 | 9.2 | — | 5 IP, 0 ER vs. Phillies |
🧾 Series Recap
This series has showcased the strengths of both lineups — Pittsburgh’s scrappy contact hitting and Chicago’s thunderous power surge. The Cubs have taken advantage of their extra-base hits and home run power (15 HR in their last 10 games), while the Pirates have relied on timely hitting from veterans like Andrew McCutchen and the explosive Oneil Cruz.
The Pirates dropped two games as moneyline favorites recently, and their offense has been inconsistent, averaging just 3.2 runs per game over their last 10. The Cubs, meanwhile, are heating up at the plate, averaging six runs per game in that same stretch.
📊 Betting Trends
| Team | ATS (Last 10) | Over (Last 10) | Season as Fav | Season as Dog |
| Pirates | 6-4 | 5-5 | 5-6 (Favored) | — |
| Cubs | 5-5 | 6-4 | — | 7-8 (Underdog) |
🏥 Injury Report
| Team | Player | Injury | Status |
| Pirates | Endy Rodriguez | Finger | 10-Day IL |
| Pirates | Justin Lawrence | Elbow | 15-Day IL |
| Pirates | Jared Jones | Elbow | 60-Day IL |
| Cubs | Justin Steele | Elbow | 60-Day IL |
| Cubs | Eli Morgan | Elbow | 15-Day IL |
| Cubs | Javier Assad | Oblique | 60-Day IL |
🔥 Prop Bets to Watch
Pirates Player Props
| Player | Hits O/U | Total Bases O/U | RBI O/U |
| Oneil Cruz | 1.5 (+195) | 1.5 (-110) | 0.5 (+145) |
| Andrew McCutchen | 0.5 (-200) | 1.5 (+130) | 0.5 (+130) |
| Bryan Reynolds | 0.5 (-235) | 1.5 (+125) | 0.5 (+175) |
Cubs Player Props
| Player | Hits O/U | Total Bases O/U | RBI O/U |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | 0.5 (-170) | 0.5 (-170) | 0.5 (+205) |
| Seiya Suzuki | 0.5 (-185) | 0.5 (-190) | 0.5 (+180) |
🧠 Same Game Parlay (ClutchBuzz Boost)
- ✅ Cubs +1.5 Run Line
- ✅ Over 7.5 Total Runs
- ✅ Oneil Cruz 1+ RBI
- ✅ Pete Crow-Armstrong 2+ Total Bases
Odds: +850 Boosted
🔚 Final Pirates vs. Cubs Prediction
Both teams are throwing hot arms, but the Cubs have the offensive edge right now — especially with Carson Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong mashing. Paul Skenes may limit damage, but the Pirates’ bats have been inconsistent. Expect a tight, mid-scoring game, with the Cubs stealing the series finale on the road.
💥 Prediction: Cubs 4, Pirates 3
🔒 Best Bet: Cubs +1.5 Run Line & Over 7.5 Total Runs
