Cubs vs. Pirates: Game 1, prediction, odds, injuries and picks

The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game set from PNC Park on Tuesday in the NL Central rivals' first showdown of the MLB season. Chicago held a slim 7-6 advantage in last season's rivalry, with five of those wins coming on the road.

Game 1 features a battle of left-handers, with the Cubs sending Shota Imanaga to the mound to square off against Andrew Heaney in what could end up being one of the best pitcher pairings of the night.

Cubs vs. Pirates recent form and records

Chicago

The Cubs stroll into the Steel City off dropping their first series of the season at Wrigley Field after the Phillies took two of three over the weekend.

The series defeat moved Craig Counsell's troops to 17-12 overall, good enough to hold a slim one-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds atop the division standings. Chicago sports winning marks both at home (9-7, $21) and on the road (8-5, $388), amounting to $409 worth of profit for MLB bettors.

Pittsburgh

The Pirates return home from a successful six-game west coast road trip, which saw Derek Shelton's crew secure three wins in all against the Angels and Dodgers.

The showing still finds the Buccos bringing up the rear of the NL Central, six games behind the front-running Cubs. At 11-18 overall, Pittsburgh represents the fifth-worst bet in all of baseball, which finds them $597 in the red for their $100-per-bet supporters.

Injuries

Chicago

Eli Morgan RP 15 Day IL - Elbow
Ryan Brasier RP 15 Day IL - Hip
Tyson Miller RP 15 Day IL - Hip
Javier Assad RP 15 Day IL - Oblique
Justin Steele SP 60 Day IL - Elbow

Pittsburgh

Endy Rodriguez 1B 10 Day IL - Finger
Nick Gonzales 2B 10 Day IL - Ankle
Spencer Horwitz 1B 10 Day IL - Wrist
Justin Lawrence RP 15 Day IL - Elbow
Tim Mayza RP 60 Day IL - Shoulder
Jared Jones SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Johan Oviedo SP 60 Day IL - Elbow
Dauri Moreta RP 60 Day IL - Elbow

Starting Pitchers

Shota Imanaga (2-1, 3.18 ERA in 2025)

Allowed 25 hits (7 HR) & 12 ER with a 27:12 K/BB ratio in six 2025 starts.
Tossed 5.2 IP of 7 hits (3 HR) & 5 ER ball with 6:2 K/BB ratio vs. LA Dodgers last start.
1-0 with a 0.00 ERA & 14:3 K/BB ratio in 14.0 career IP thrown vs. the Pirates.
1-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 11:5 K/BB ratio in 12.0 IP on the road in 2025

Andrew Heaney (2-1, 1.72 ERA in 2025)

Allowed 18 hits (1 HR) & 6 ER with a 31:6 K/BB ratio in five 2025 starts.
Tossed 6.0 IP of 1 hit (0 HR) and 0 ER ball with 9:0 K/BB ratio at LA Angels last start.
1-0 with a 0.63 ERA and 14:3 K/BB ratio in 14.1 IP at home in 2025.
0-1 with a 6.00 ERA & 7:0 K/BB ratio in 6.0 career IP thrown vs. the Cubs.

Must-Watch Hitters

Chicago

The Cubs possess a glaring weakness at third base right now, with the failure to sign Alex Bregman playing a major role in this. Justin Turner has only partaken in 17 total games to this point, but it's likely the right-handed bat is called upon due to seeing a good amount of Andrew Heaney over the course of his career.

He's 5-for-19 against the south paw overall with a pair of home runs, walks, and strikeouts. Turner has been awful thus far in batting .163 overall through 42 at-bats, but has been better against left-handed pitching, slashing .222/.364/.222/.586.

Expand Tweet

Pittsburgh

With Imanaga holding Pittsburgh to a collective 0.083 batting average in the 14.0 combined innings he's thrown against them, it's tough to pinpoint a Buccos' bat worthy of investing upon in the MLB player prop markets.

However, Oneil Cruz had been red hot before Sunday's finale at Dodger Stadium, hitting safely in six straight games with four extra-base hits that saw three leave the yard. Cruz has gone down on strikes two of the three times he stared back at the left-hander, but could still make hay once Chicago is forced to the pen.

Expand Tweet

Cubs vs. Pirates Betting Odds

Tuesday 4/29	Money Line	Run Line	Total Runs
Chicago Cubs	-142	-1.5 +110	O 8.5 -112
Pittsburgh Pirates	+120	+1.5 -130	U 8.5 -108

Cubs vs. Pirates expert picks and game prediction

Oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook have the opener of this three-game set correctly priced. This figures to be a pitcher's duel right from the outset. Imanaga owned the Pirates' lineup last season, while Heaney is currently locked in, having allowed one or fewer runs in four of five made starts.

Look for each starting pitcher to go deep into this one, and for Chicago to find a way to squeak out the low-scoring win when it matters most in the late innings.

Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction: Chicago Wins 4-2

About the author

Mike earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Kansas with dreams of becoming an orthopedic surgeon and team physician. However, his career path took a different turn as he ventured into sports handicapping, writing, and editing.

While preparing for the MCAT, Mike applied to contribute to a site offering free sports picks, which proved to be a pivotal step. His success there garnered interest from larger platforms and startups. Despite his efforts, organic chemistry derailed his medical school ambitions, and he chose to shift fully into sports betting and fantasy sports content creation.

Over a 20-year career, Mike has navigated the highs and lows of professional sports betting. His experience spans working on a late-night sports talk radio show, covering the Chicago Rush in the Arena Football League, managing a content distribution company, owning and operating a vape shop, and creating one of the first profitable DFS affiliate sites—an endeavor that helped buy his current home.

When offline, Mike enjoys working out his green thumb, coaching his son’s sports teams, hosting tea parties with his daughter, and relaxing with his wife and friends. A die-hard Kansas Jayhawks fan, he also proudly bleeds Cubbie blue.

Know More

Edited by Mike Rose