Prop Bets: Chicago Cubs VS Pittsburgh Pirates 2025-09-17

Cubs vs. Pirates: A Tale of Two Offenses (and One Great Pitcher)

The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates meet in a game that’s less a baseball match and more of a math problem: How many ways can a team fail to hit a baseball? The answer,显然, is “a lot,” especially for the Pirates, who rank 28th in MLB batting average and last in runs scored. With Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes (1.92 ERA) facing the Cubs’ Cade Horton (2.70 ERA), this looks like a low-scoring duel where the real stars are the pitchers’ ERAs and the collective sigh of every Pirate fan.

The Verdict?
Under 8 Runs (-115, DraftKings): Both starters have been masterclasses in efficiency. Skenes has held opponents to 4 ER in 23 innings, while Horton’s 0.84 ERA since the All-Star break suggests he’s mastered the art of “pitching, don’t pitch.” The Pirates’ offense? They’ve scored 3 or fewer runs in 14 straight games. This isn’t baseball—it’s a waiting game.

Why the Cubs Win (-165, FanDuel): Horton’s 2.70 ERA is pedestrian, but it’s way better than Pittsburgh’s entire lineup. The Cubs’ bats? They’ve averaged 4.2 runs in Horton’s last 5 starts. Meanwhile, the Pirates’ hitters are so desperate for contact they might try bunting for a home run.

Player Props to Mock:
- Bryan Reynolds, Over 0.5 Doubles (-200): Reynolds has 11 doubles all season. Betting he’ll get one tonight is like betting your Uncle Bob will finally clean his room.
- Tommy Pham, Over 0.5 Home Runs (+500): Pham’s HR drought is longer than a Pirate’s patience. Take the under—hard.
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Over 1.5 Stolen Bases (+400): He’s fast, but even he can’t outrun the odds here.

Final Jeer:
This game will be a 2-1 Cubs win, with Skenes pitching into the 8th and the Pirates’ offense collectively forgetting how to swing. Take the Under, avoid the “Pirates +1.5” spread like it’s a bad Tinder date, and laugh all the way to the bank when Reynolds strikes out trying to bunt.

“It’s not a game. It’s a math test, and the Pirates failed it in June.” 🐙⚾

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