• The Pirates are -175 favorites vs the Cubs
• Cubs vs Pirates Over / Under today: 7.5 Runs
• Cubs / Pirates TV Channel: MARQ | SNPT

The Chicago Cubs (+145) visit PNC Park to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (-175) on May 28, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 pm in Pittsburgh, PA.

This season, the Cubs are 30-26 against the spread (ATS), while the Pirates are 29-26 ATS.

Cubs vs Pirates Starting Pitchers Today:

• Cubs starting pitcher: Colin Rea 4-3, 4.84 ERA
• Pirates starting pitcher: Paul Skenes 6-4, 3.00 ERA

Cubs vs. Pirates Odds, Run Line, Over/Under & Moneyline

Cubs vs Pirates Prediction for Today’s Game

Based on recent trends the model predicts the Pirates will win Thursday‘s MLB game with 54.6% confidence, factoring in game simulations, recent player performances, starting pitchers and injuries.

Bet now on Cubs vs Pirates and all games with BetMGM

We’ve highlighted some favorite MLB player prop bets for Cubs players for Thursday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Cubs Player Prop Bets Today:

• Moises Ballesteros has hit the Hits Under in 15 of his last 20 games (+13.75 Units / 60% ROI)
• Moises Ballesteros has hit the Singles Under in 17 of his last 20 games (+13.20 Units / 47% ROI)
• Alex Bregman has hit the RBIs Under in 21 of his last 25 away games (+12.00 Units / 20% ROI)
• Alex Bregman has hit the Total Bases Over in his last 9 away games (+11.90 Units / 121% ROI)
• Michael Busch has hit the Walks Over in 17 of his last 25 games (+11.60 Units / 45% ROI)

And here are some favorite MLB player prop bets for Pirates players for Thursday‘s game, looking at profitable historical betting trends:

Best Pirates Player Prop Best Bets Today:

• Spencer Horwitz has hit the Home Runs Over in 3 of his last 8 games (+21.50 Units / 269% ROI)
• Konnor Griffin has hit the Runs Over in 16 of his last 25 games (+15.00 Units / 60% ROI)
• Spencer Horwitz has hit the Hits Over in 21 of his last 25 games (+14.55 Units / 33% ROI)
• Henry Davis has hit the Singles Under in 21 of his last 25 games (+13.80 Units / 30% ROI)
• Konnor Griffin has hit the Total Bases Over in 16 of his last 20 games at home (+13.25 Units / 47% ROI)

Cubs Best Bets Today:

• The Chicago Cubs have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Under in 13 of their last 17 games (+8.95 Units / 44% ROI)
• The Chicago Cubs have hit the Team Total Under in 13 of their last 17 games (+8.35 Units / 40% ROI)
• The Chicago Cubs have hit the Game Total Over in 15 of their last 24 away games (+6.25 Units / 23% ROI)
• The Chicago Cubs have hit the Moneyline in 23 of their last 40 games (+3.85 Units / 7% ROI)

Pirates Best Bets Today:

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 28 of their last 45 games at home (+9.30 Units / 17% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have covered the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 30 of their last 50 games (+7.10 Units / 12% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the Game Total Over in 19 of their last 30 games at home (+6.90 Units / 21% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have covered the Run Line in 24 of their last 45 games at home (+5.45 Units / 10% ROI)
• The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline in 14 of their last 24 games (+5.05 Units / 15% ROI)

Cubs Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Cubs are 22-34 against the Run Line (-13.6 Units / -20.45% ROI).

• 30-26 when betting on the Moneyline for -2.5 Units / -3.29% ROI
• 31-24 when betting on the total runs Over for +5.2 Units / 8.47% ROI
• 24-31 when betting on the total runs Under for -9.95 Units / -16.05% ROI

Pirates Against the Spread (ATS) Record

Against the spread this season, the Pirates are 29-26 against the Run Line (+3.85 Units / 5.54% ROI).

• 29-27 when betting on the Moneyline for -3.25 Units / -4.53% ROI
• 29-25 when betting on the total runs Over for +1.3 Units / 2.09% ROI
• 25-29 when betting on the total runs Under for -6.55 Units / -10.73% ROI

Pirates vs Cubs Home Run Prop Bets Today

Pirates vs Cubs Total Hits Prop Bets Today

Pirates vs Cubs Strikeout Prop Bets Today

Cubs Keys to the Game vs. the Pirates

The Cubs are 9-1 (.900) when they’ve scored in the first inning this season — best in MLB; League Avg: .640.

The Cubs are 20-9 (.690) after a win this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .531.

The Cubs are 15-1 (.938) when they’ve had 10 or more hits this season — tied for 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .757.

The Cubs are 22-0 (1.000) when leading entering the 7th inning this season — tied for best in MLB; League Avg: .864.

Pirates Keys to the Game vs. the Cubs

The Pirates are 27-3 (.900) when allowing 4 or fewer runs this season — 2nd best in MLB; League Avg: .717.

The Pirates are just 0-21 (.000) when trailing entering the 9th inning this season — tied for lowest in MLB; League Avg: .052.

The Pirates are just 1-14 (.067) when allowing 10 or more hits this season — 2nd lowest in MLB; League Avg: .243.

The Pirates are 17-9 (.654) after a loss this season — 3rd best in MLB; League Avg: .469.

Cubs Hitting Stats & Trends

Cubs hitters have an OBP of .336 (2,196 PA’s) this season — 2nd best in MLB.

Cubs hitters have drawn walks in 12% of their PA’s against RHP this season — best in MLB.

Cubs hitters have drawn walks in 14% of their PA’s when leading off an inning this season — best in MLB.

Cubs hitters have put 41% of their swings in play on pitches 95 mph or greater this season — highest in MLB.

Pirates Hitting Stats & Trends

The Pirates are batting .316 when facing the starting pitcher for the 3rd time in a game this season — best in MLB.

Pirates hitters have 36 extra-base hits out of 146 total hits (just 25%) against LHP this season — lowest in MLB.

The Pirates are batting .276 at home this season — best in MLB.

Pirates hitters have struck out in 27% of their PA’s against LHP this season — 3rd highest in MLB.

Cubs Pitching Stats & Trends

Cubs pitchers have walked 8% of batters this season — tied for 5th best in MLB.

Opponents have a groundball batting average of just .198 against Cubs pitchers with runners on base this season — best in MLB.

Opponents have a groundball batting average of just .224 against Cubs pitchers this season — 5th best in MLB.

The Cubs pitchers have allowed an average Exit Velocity of 90.0 MPH this season (1,392 balls in play) — tied for 2nd highest in MLB

Pirates Pitching Stats & Trends

Pirates pitchers have walked 11% of batters when facing the leadoff batter in the inning this season — 3rd highest in MLB.

Opponents have a groundball batting average of just .214 against Pirates pitchers this season — best in MLB.

Pirates pitchers have allowed 49 home runs this season — tied for 5th fewest in MLB.

Pirates pitchers have allowed a slugging percentage of just .366 this season — tied for 5th best in MLB.

More MLB Reading:

• Home Run Predictions Today
• Best NRFI Bets Today
• Strikeout Props Today
• MLB Starting Pitchers Today

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