Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 12 2026

The Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Saturday, September 12, 2026. First pitch is scheduled for 2:20 PM ET with coverage on MLB.TV. Pittsburgh enters at 74-73 overall and 36-39 on the road, while Chicago is 81-66 overall and 41-31 at home. The season series is tied 5-5, but the two clubs enter in completely opposite form, with Pittsburgh riding a four-game winning streak and Chicago carrying a four-game losing streak. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the season.

Starting Pitchers

Pittsburgh is scheduled to start Paul Skenes, who enters at 10-11 with a 3.83 ERA and 1.15 WHIP through 155 innings. He has allowed 133 hits and 15 home runs while recording 181 strikeouts against 45 walks. Chicago counters with Clay Holmes, who is 6-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.12 WHIP across 86 innings. He has surrendered 66 hits and only five home runs while striking out 65 and walking 30. Chicago owns the ERA and WHIP advantage, while Pittsburgh has the much larger workload and significantly higher strikeout total from its scheduled starter.

Pittsburgh Arrives in Chicago on a Four-Game Winning Streak

Pittsburgh enters Saturday at 74-73 overall and 36-39 on the road. The Pirates have won four straight games and four of their last five, with their most recent victories coming by scores of 2-0, 4-2, 9-3 and 1-0. Their only loss during that stretch was a 6-1 defeat. Pittsburgh has therefore paired timely offense with strong run prevention during its current surge, allowing only five combined runs over the four victories.

The Pirates are batting .253 with 709 runs, 1,280 hits and 168 home runs. They own a .331 on-base percentage and .403 slugging percentage. On the mound, Pittsburgh carries a 4.13 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while opponents are batting .236. The Pirates have recorded 1,357 strikeouts against 532 walks and are 37-24 in day games.

Pittsburgh's biggest strength entering this matchup is its current form and ability to suppress opposing offenses. The Pirates have the better batting average and opponent batting average in the season-long team numbers, and they have allowed two runs or fewer in three of their last four games. The concern is that Chicago has more power and has been much stronger at home, but Pittsburgh's four-game winning streak makes it difficult to dismiss the road team.

Chicago Tries to Stop a Four-Game Slide at Wrigley Field

Chicago enters Saturday at 81-66 overall and 41-31 at home. The Cubs have lost four consecutive games and four of their last five, with defeats by scores of 8-6, 4-3 in 10 innings, 4-3 and 10-3. Their lone victory in that stretch was a 6-5 win. Three of Chicago's four recent losses were decided by two runs or fewer, so the slide has included several competitive games despite the lack of wins.

The Cubs are batting .251 with 780 runs, 1,267 hits and 203 home runs. Chicago owns a .339 on-base percentage and .429 slugging percentage. Its pitching staff carries a 4.22 ERA and 1.27 WHIP while opposing hitters are batting .245. The Cubs have recorded 1,142 strikeouts against 449 walks and are 31-31 in day games.

Chicago's biggest advantage is offensive power. The Cubs have hit 35 more home runs than Pittsburgh and own clear advantages in runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Their 41-31 home record also provides a meaningful edge. The problem is recent momentum, as Chicago has dropped four straight while Pittsburgh has done the opposite. The Cubs will need their offense to overcome that form discrepancy and a difficult opposing starter.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction

Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates Moneyline

The Pittsburgh Pirates Moneyline is the preferred side. Chicago has the stronger overall record and better home split, but Pittsburgh enters with four straight wins while the Cubs have lost four consecutive games. The Pirates have also been excellent at limiting runs during their winning streak, and their scheduled starter brings a 1.15 WHIP and 181 strikeouts into this matchup. With the season series tied 5-5 and Pittsburgh holding the current momentum edge, the Pirates offer the better side.

Pick: Under 8.5

Take the Under if the total is set at 8.5 or higher. Both scheduled starters enter with WHIPs close to 1.10, while Chicago's starter carries a 2.83 ERA and Pittsburgh's starter owns a 3.83 ERA over 155 innings. Pittsburgh has held opponents to two runs or fewer in three of its last four games, and the Pirates' .236 opponent batting average is also a positive indicator for a lower-scoring matchup. Chicago has enough power to create some risk, but the starting pitching matchup gives the Under the better value at 8.5.

Final Picks: Pittsburgh Pirates Moneyline and Under 8.5

This preview was completed on Friday. Starting pitchers, betting lines and other game information are subject to change before the game begins.