On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (52-72) are visiting the Chicago Cubs (69-53), at 2:20 p.m. ET, in the final game of a three-game series.
The Cubs are a home favorite (-199) against the Pirates (+164). The Chicago Cubs will give the start to Javier Assad (0-1, 9.00 ERA), who is looking for win No. 1 on the season, and the Pirates will counter with Carmen Mlodzinski (2-7, 4.20 ERA).
These clubs meet again following the Cubs’ 3-1 victory over the Pirates yesterday. Andrew Kittredge (1.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K) registered the win for the Cubs. Nico Hoerner went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI to lead the team on offense. Evan Sisk (0.1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 0 K) was credited with the loss on the mound for the Pirates.
Prepare for the Cubs vs. Pirates with what you need to know about Sunday’s game, including viewing options.
Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates odds, line and spread
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 3:16 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Favorite: Cubs (-199, bet $199 to win $100)Underdog: Pirates (+164, bet $100 to win $164)Over/under: 8Cubs vs. Pirates: Game time and live stream infoGame day: Sunday, August 17, 2025Game time: 2:20 p.m. ETLocation: Chicago, IllinoisStadium: Wrigley FieldTV channel: MARQ and SportsNet PTLive stream: Watch LIVE with Fubo! (Regional restrictions may apply)
Watch Cubs vs. Pirates on Fubo!
Cubs stats and trendsCubs betting recordsThe Cubs have won 55, or 64%, of the 86 games they’ve played as favorites this season.Chicago has a record of 14-2 in games when sportsbooks favor them by at least -199 on the moneyline.The implied probability of a win from the Cubs, based on the moneyline, is 66.6%.Games involving Chicago have gone over the total set by sportsbooks in 58 of 122 chances this season.The Cubs are 58-64-0 ATS in their 122 games with a spread this season.Javier Assad (Cubs probable starter)Assad (0-1) makes the start for the Cubs, his second of the season.In his last appearance on Tuesday, the righty tossed four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up four earned runs while surrendering eight hits.Over his one appearance this season, opposing hitters have compiled a batting average of .421 against him. He has a 9.00 ERA and averages 4.5 strikeouts per nine innings.The opposing Pirates offense has the worst slugging percentage (.345) and is last in MLB play with 88 home runs. It has a collective .231 batting average, and is 26th in MLB with 953 total hits and last in MLB play scoring 436 runs.Cubs batting statsThe Cubs have hit 170 homers this season, which ranks seventh in the league.Hitters for Chicago have a combined .433 slugging percentage this season, which ranks fourth in MLB.The Cubs rank eighth in MLB with a .252 team batting average.Chicago has scored 610 runs this season, which ranks seventh in MLB.The Cubs have an on-base percentage of .321 this season, which ranks ninth in the league.Chicago ranks fourth in MLB in strikeouts per game with an average of 7.7 whiffs per contest.Pirates stats and trendsPirates betting recordsThe Pirates have come away with 35 wins in the 86 contests they have been listed as the underdogs in this season.This year, Pittsburgh has won six of 18 games when listed as at least +164 or worse on the moneyline.The Pirates have an implied victory probability of 37.9% according to the moneyline set by sportsbooks for this matchup.Pittsburgh and its opponents have gone over in 52 of its 123 games with a total set by sportsbooks this season.In 123 games with a line this season, the Pirates have a mark of 63-60-0 against the spread.Carmen Mlodzinski (Pirates probable starter)Mlodzinski (2-7) takes the mound first for the Pirates in his 10th start of the season. He has a 4.20 ERA in 75 2/3 innings pitched, with 62 strikeouts.In his most recent appearance — out of the bullpen on Wednesday — the righty tossed two innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing two earned runs while surrendering one hit.The 26-year-old has put up an ERA of 4.20, with 7.4 strikeouts per nine innings in 24 games this season. Opponents are hitting .280 against him.Mlodzinski has not registered a quality start on the season.Mlodzinski enters the matchup with three outings of five or more innings pitched this season.He has had 11 appearances this season that he held his opponents to zero earned runs.He will take the hill against a Cubs squad that is batting .252 as a unit (eighth in the MLB). They are also slugging a collective .433 (fourth in the league) with 170 total home runs (seventh in MLB action).Mlodzinski has thrown six innings, giving up two earned runs on nine hits while striking out five against the Cubs this season.Pirates batting statsThe Pirates have hit the fewest home runs in MLB action this season (88).This season, Pittsburgh’s .345 slugging percentage is the lowest percentage in baseball.The Pirates have the fourth-worst batting average in the league (.231).Pittsburgh scores the fewest runs in baseball (436 total, 3.5 per game).The Pirates’ .303 on-base percentage ranks 25th in baseball.