Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Preview and Odds - 09/12/2026

Game Time: 2:20 pm ET, Saturday, September 12, 2026

Venue:  Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +104, Cubs -126; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +105, Cubs -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Pirates +105, Cubs -125; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

Pittsburgh Pirates:  74-73 (3rd place, NL Central)

Chicago Cubs:  81-66 (2nd place, NL Central)

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Pittsburgh Pirates:  8-2 last 10

Chicago Cubs:  4-6 last 10

The Pirates are entering this series off a win and completed the sweep in their 3-game series against the Chicago White Sox 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with a 74-73 record overall and have a road record of 36-39. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Saturday with the series opener still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 7th in the MLB with a .732 OPS. Wilber Dotel is their starting pitcher on Friday while Paul Skenes is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 10-11 with a 3.83 ERA this season. His team won their last 4 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 0 ER, 0 HR, and 1 BB with 2 SO on 4 hits through 5.1 IP against the Los Angeles Angels.

The Cubs are entering this series off a loss and got swept in their 3-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 in their last series. They enter this game with an 81-66 record overall and have a home record of 41-31. This is the 2nd game of a 3-game series with the Pirates on Saturday with the 1st game of this series still to be played on Friday. Their offense ranks 1st in the MLB with a .770 OPS. Shota Imanaga is their starting pitcher on Friday while Clay Holmes is making his start in this game on Saturday. He is 6-7 with a 2.83 ERA this season. His team lost 3 of their last 4 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 8 earned runs, 1 homer, and 3 walks with 2 strikeouts on 6 hits through 4.1 innings pitched against the Miami Marlins.

The current betting odds have the Pirates listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Pirates have looked good in their games this season with their 74-73 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL Central. They haven't been a good road team though with their 36-39 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Cubs have looked really good in their games this season with their 81-66 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have looked good in their own ballpark too with their 41-31 home record this season. The Cubs haven't looked good lately though, now 4-6 in their last 10 games and getting swept by the Brewers in their last series. The Pirates are coming off a sweep themselves and they have been rolling lately, now 8-2 in their last 10 games. Skenes is on the mound for the Pirates in this one and he has looked good this season. he is 10-11 with a 3.83 ERA and he has looked a lot better lately. He is coming off a great start giving up no runs which has been a common theme for him lately and the team has been having a lot more success with him too, winning 4 games in a row now with him starting. The Cubs are going with Holmes in this one and he has looked great this season. he is 6-7 with a 2.83 ERA, but lately he hasn't looked good. The team has had a lot more trouble with him lately, losing 3 of their last 4 games with him starting, and he is coming off a terrible start in which he gave up 8 earned runs. The bullpen has also looked a lot better for the Pirates lately while the cubs bullpen has been a disaster all year. The best way to place a bet here is on the Pirates to win this game. 

Pirates Cubs Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Saturday, September 12, 2026 (2:20 pm ET start time) is Pirates 3 Cubs 2.

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Pittsburgh Pirates: 222-249 (-20.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 100-136 (-18.2 units) on the moneyline in road games. 67-81 (-13.8 units) on the moneyline against division opponents. 28-17 OVER vs. good power teams - averaging 1.25 or more HR's/game.

Chicago Cubs: 261-218 (+12.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 140-99 (+9.5 units) on the moneyline in home games. 202-158 (+22.1 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 27-18 OVER against division opponents.

Pittsburgh Pirates:  B. Ashcraft (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Arm. I. Mattson (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Hip. K. Yates (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. E. Rodriguez (C) Sixty Day IL - Hip. M. Keller (SP) Sixty Day IL - Arm. R. 

Chicago Cubs:  P. Maton (RP) Sixty Day IL - Knee. E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Blister. D. Swanson (SS) Ten Day IL - Side. B. Brown (RP) Sixty Day IL - Neck. G. Hollowell (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Shoulder. R. Martin (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. P. Hodge (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. C. Horton (SP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. H. Harvey (RP) Sixty Day IL - Tricep. J. Steele (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. T. Austin (1B) Sixty Day IL - Knee. S. Miller (RP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

“The whole thing was really impressive. Fastball velocity, command was there, and slider was really, really good. Mixed in some changeups as the outing went on. He had the six perfect innings earlier this season. [Thursday] was just as good, if not better, than that.” - Don Kelly after his team’s win against the White Sox in their game on Thursday. 

“Look, again, our job is to win games. That’s what we can control. That’s what we can do. [The Wild Card race] doesn’t affect any decisions. The decisions are happening during the game here. What’s going on around the league doesn’t help us. Do we know the standings? I know the standings, yeah.” - Craig Counsell after his team’s loss against the Brewers in their game on Wednesday. 

Konnor Griffin (R) SS

Oneil Cruz (L) CF

Bryan Reynolds (S) DH

Rafael Flores Jr. (R) 1B

Esmerlyn Valdez (R) RF

Nick Gonzales (R) 2B

Jake Mangum (S) LF

Jared Triolo (R) 3B

Henry Davis (R) C

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Nico Hoerner (R) SS

Michael Conforto (L) DH

Pedro Ramírez (S) 2B

Carson Kelly (R) C

Batting Average:  Nick Gonzales (.304)

Hits:  Nick Gonzales (156)

Home Runs:  Brandon Lowe (29)

RBI:  Brandon Lowe (83)

Stolen Bases:  Oneil Cruz (27)

Wins:  Braxton Ashcraft (14)

Saves:  Gregory Soto (14)

ERA:  Noah Murdock (0.00)

Batting Average:  Gabriel Arias (.429)

Hits:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (159)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (41)

RBI:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (97)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (36)

Wins:  Shota Imanaga (9)

Saves:  Jacob Webb (9)

ERA:  Ty Blach (0.00)

Managers:

Pittsburgh Pirates: Don Kelly (2nd season)

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)