Game Overview
- First Pitch: 2:20 PM EDT / 1:20 PM local time
- Broadcast: FS1
- Venue: Wrigley Field, Chicago
- Weather: Mid-80s, sunny, light winds—ideal baseball conditions
- Cubs are favored heavily, with Shota Imanaga on the mound
- Pirates lead the series 1–0, but Cubs hold a 5–3 edge in the season series
Pitching Matchup
| Team | Starter | W–L | ERA | WHIP | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | Mike Burrows | 1–4 | 4.66 | 1.24 | 69 |
| Cubs | Shota Imanaga | 8–5 | 3.19 | 0.97 | 79 |
- Imanaga’s control and low WHIP give Chicago a clear edge
Recent Form
| Team | Last 10 Games | Batting Avg | ERA | Run Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cubs | 3–7 | .208 | 3.03 | -1 |
| Pirates | 3–7 | .228 | 6.31 | -34 |
Both teams are struggling, but the Cubs’ pitching has held up better
Players to Watch
Chicago Cubs
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: 27 HR, .523 SLG
- Dansby Swanson: 11-for-37, 2 HR, 3 RBI (last 10 games)
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa: .269 AVG, 17 doubles
- Bryan Reynolds: 13-for-39, 3 HR, 9 RBI (last 10 games)
Injury Report
Chicago Cubs
- Miguel Amaya (ankle), Mike Soroka (shoulder), Jameson Taillon (calf), Eli Morgan & Justin Steele (elbow)
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Oneil Cruz (concussion), Endy Rodriguez, Enmanuel Valdez, Justin Lawrence, Tim Mayza, Jared Jones (various injuries)
Game Odds
Pittsburgh Pirates 9
Chicago Cubs – 230
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, August 15, 2025
