Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, Odds and Picks for Today, 04/12/26

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs wrap up their series on Sunday afternoon, with Pittsburgh looking to complete the sweep. Few would have expected the Pirates to be sitting atop the NL Central at 9-5 to start the season, while the Cubs find themselves at the bottom at 6-8. Offensively, these teams are fairly comparable. The Pirates are averaging 4.3 runs per game while hitting .240, compared to the Cubs at .219 and 4.2 runs per game. As far as pitching goes, both teams have been great this season, with the Pirates holding a 3.02 team ERA and the Cubs sitting at 3.24. 

Taking the mound for the Pirates will be Bubba Chandler, who is 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA through 2 starts this season. The Cubs will counter with Jameson Taillon, who is 0-1 with a 2.53 ERA through 2 starts. This will likely be another close battle between division rivals, but the edge is with the Pirates in this one. The Pirates have been the more consistent offense lately, and Oneil Cruz has been a major factor — swinging a hot bat and creating problems for opposing pitchers. It’s worth noting Cruz is 0-13 in his career against Taillon, but I think that changes today based on the way he’s seeing the ball. I expect this to be a close game throughout, but the Pirates will manage to escape with a win and complete the series sweep. 

Pirates vs Cubs prediction: Pittsburgh Pirates ML (+115) available at time of publishing. Playable at that number.

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