Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 06/13/25

The division-leading Chicago Cubs are set to face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 5th time this season on Friday afternoon. Chicago has won the first game of this series and 3 of the first 4 matchups on the season, but I am siding with the Pirates today as they hold a clear edge in the starting pitcher department. Pittsburgh will start Paul Skenes who is in the midst of a Cy Young contending season, posting a 1.88 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 91 innings of work. Skenes has 92 strikeouts to only 20 walks issued during that sample of time and his efficiency helps him work deep into games. While he is essentially the new Jacob deGrom, pitching extremely effectively while receiving very little run support, I do expect some runs from the Pirates today.

Cade Horton will take the mound for the Cubs and I am not entirely sold on him at this point in his career. The 23-year-old right-hander has been serviceable with a 4.11 ERA in his first 30.2 innings of work, but his last outing resulted in 9 base runners and 4 earned runs across 5 innings against the Tigers. Pittsburgh is not as strong offensively as Detroit is, but they shouldn’t need an overabundance of runs with Skenes on the mound.

Pirates vs Cubs prediction: Pittsburgh ML (-105) available at time of publishing. Playable at that price.

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