Chicago Cubs vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, Preview and Odds - 07/24/2026

Game Time: 6:40 pm ET, Friday, July 24, 2026

Venue:  PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs +104, Pirates -126; Over/Under:  8 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs +105, Pirates -125; Over/Under:  8 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Cubs +105, Pirates -125; Over/Under:  8 runs

Chicago Cubs:  57-45 (2nd place, NL Central)

Pittsburgh Pirates:  53-50 (4th place, NL Central)

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Chicago Cubs:  5-5 last 10

Pittsburgh Pirates:  6-4 last 10

The Cubs are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the Detroit Tigers 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 57-45 record overall and have a road record of 27-23. This is the series opener of a 3-game series with the Pirates on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 4th in the MLB with a .751 OPS. Colin Rea was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Matthew Boyd is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 6-1 with a 4.15 ERA this season. His team won their last 6 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 1 ER, 1 HR, and 1 BB with 4 SO on 3 hits through 6 IP against the Minnesota Twins.

The Pirates are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the New York Yankees 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 53-50 record overall and have a home record of 27-24. This is the 1st game of a 3-game series with the Cubs on Friday and they have Thursday off as a day of rest. Their offense ranks 3rd in the MLB with a .763 OPS. Bubba Chandler was their starting pitcher on Wednesday while Jared Jones is making his start in this game on Friday. He is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA this season. His team won 2 of their last 3 games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 1 earned run, 0 homers, and 1 walk with 9 strikeouts on 3 hits through 5 innings pitched against the Cleveland Guardians.

The current betting odds have the Cubs listed as a slight underdog in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cubs have looked good in their games this season with their 57-45 record overall which has them right near the top of the NL Central. They have been a good road team too with their 27-23 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Pirates have looked good in their games this season with their 53-50 record overall, but that record has them right near the bottom of the NL Central. They have looked better in their own ballpark though with their 27-24 home record this season. The Pirates are 6-4 in their last 10 games and they have been rolling with one of the best offenses in MLB, but lately their offense has been really up and down, losing their last series to the Yankees. The Cubs are also coming off a series loss and are 5-5 in their last 10 games now, but they do have a really good offense this season too and lately they have been putting up a ton of runs. Boyd is on the mound for the Cubs in this one and he hasn't looked great this season. He is 6-1 with a 4.15 ERA, but the team has been having a ton of success with him lately. He is coming off a great start in which he gave up 1 earned run, something that has been more of a common theme lately, and the team has won 6 games in a row now with him starting too. The Pirates are going with Jones in this one and he hasn't looked great this season either. He is 2-1 with a 4.05 ERA and he has been really up and down in his starts. He only gave up 1 earned run in his last start and the team has won 2 of their last 3 games with him starting, but that hasn't been a common theme and the Pirates have had a lot of trouble with their bullpen this season too. The Cubs are the better team overall here and this is a really important series in the division, so look for the Cubs to edge out the Pirates here with the more consistent offense as of late. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cubs to win this game. 

Cubs Pirates Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Friday, July 24, 2026 (6:40 pm ET start time) is Cubs 6 Pirates 5.

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Chicago Cubs: 237-197 (+14.8 units) on the moneyline in all games. 68-79 (+6.6 units) on the moneyline as an underdog of +100 or higher. 189-142 (+30 units) on the moneyline against right-handed starters. 17-10 OVER as a road underdog of +100 or higher.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 201-226 (-16.7 units) on the moneyline in all games. 84-67 (-9.8 units) on the moneyline as a favorite of -110 or higher. 62-72 (-9.6 units) on the moneyline against division opponents. 34-17 OVER in home games.

Chicago Cubs:  P. Maton (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Knee. M. Shaw (RF) Ten Day IL - Hand. E. Roberts (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Forearm. H. Milner (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Appendicitis. B. Brown (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Neck. E. Cabrera (SP) Fifteen Day IL - Hamstring. D. Palencia (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. 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.

Pittsburgh Pirates:  J. Mangum (CF) Day To Day - Foot. O. Cruz (CF) Sixty Day IL - Hand. K. Griffin (SS) Sixty Day IL - Finger. E. Rodriguez (C) Ten Day IL - Lower Body. E. Sisk (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Elbow. S. Horwitz (1B) Ten Day IL - Hamstring. C. Devenski (RP) Sixty Day IL - Illness.

“This is a good pitcher. You might not know his name, but this is a guy having a really good season. He’s a good pitcher.” - Craig Counsell on Keider Montero after his team’s loss against the Tigers in their game on Wednesday.

“It’s tough with the walk to Bellinger and then giving up the hits to Domínguez and Volpe. You just have to throw strikes there.” - Don Kelly on his team splitting their double-header against the Yankees on Wednesday.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

Seiya Suzuki (R) RF

Michael Busch (L) 1B

Alex Bregman (R) 3B

Ian Happ (S) LF

Nico Hoerner (R) 2B

Michael Conforto (L) DH

Carson Kelly (R) C

Dansby Swanson (R) SS

Nick Gonzales (R) 3B

Jared Triolo (R) SS

Bryan Reynolds (S) LF

Esmerlyn Valdez (R) RF

Ryan O'Hearn (L) 1B

Marcell Ozuna (R) DH

Brandon Lowe (L) 2B

Rafael Flores Jr. (R) C

Billy Cook (R) CF

Batting Average:  Justin Dean (.333)

Hits:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (107)

Home Runs:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (21)

RBI:  Dansby Swanson (58)

Stolen Bases:  Pete Crow-Armstrong (25)

Wins:  Colin Rea (7)

Saves:  Jacob Webb (5)

ERA:  Ty Blach (0.00)

Batting Average:  Nick Gonzales (.313)

Hits:  Nick Gonzales (114)

Home Runs:  Brandon Lowe (21)

RBI:  Brandon Lowe (65)

Stolen Bases:  Oneil Cruz (21)

Wins:  Braxton Ashcraft (9)

Saves:  Gregory Soto (13)

ERA:  Khristian Curtis (0.00)

Managers:

Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell (3rd season)

Pittsburgh Pirates: Don Kelly (2nd season)