As a lifelong Cubs fan, I’ve got to admit – this Tuesday night matchup against the Pirates has me feeling pretty good about our chances. Sure, we’re the underdogs at +109, but when has that ever stopped us Cubs faithful from believing?
Game Details You Need to Know
When: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 6:40 p.m. CT
Where: PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Watch: SportsNet PT and Marquee Sports Network
Betting Line: Pirates -130, Cubs +109
Run Total: 7 runs
Spread: Pirates -1.5
Why the Cubs Can Win This One
Nico’s Hot Streak Continues
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – Nico Hoerner is absolutely locked in right now. A 10-game hitting streak doesn’t just happen by accident, and his .299 batting average leads our team. When Nico’s seeing the ball well, good things happen for the Cubs offense.
Our Young Guns Are Ready
Cade Horton gets the ball for us tonight, and honestly, I love what I’ve seen from this kid. At 10-4 on the season in his 21st start, he’s shown the kind of composure that reminds me of the great Cubs pitchers of the past. Going up against Paul Skenes (who, let’s be honest, is pretty darn good at 10-9 with a 1.92 ERA) won’t be easy, but our young righty has what it takes.
Cubs Offense: Built for Success
This Cubs lineup has some serious pop. Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 29 home runs lead the team, while Seiya Suzuki has been clutch all season with 91 RBIs. Even Ian Happ, batting .242, has contributed 22 long balls and drawn 82 walks – the kind of patience that drives opposing pitchers crazy.
With 731 runs scored (8th in MLB) and 202 home runs (8th in the majors), this isn’t the same Cubs offense that’s struggled in years past. We’re averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is a heck of a lot better than Pittsburgh’s measly 3.6 runs per contest.
Pittsburgh’s Struggles Are Real
Look, I don’t want to pile on the Pirates, but the numbers don’t lie. They’re dead last in baseball with just 107 home runs and rank 30th in runs scored. Their .230 team batting average is painful to watch, even for a Cubs fan who’s seen some rough offensive years.
Bryan Reynolds leads their team with a .243 average and 71 RBIs – solid numbers, but not exactly terrifying for our pitching staff. Andrew McCutchen (.239) and the rest of their lineup just haven’t provided consistent offensive support.
The Injury Report
We’re dealing with some key injuries – Kyle Tucker (calf) and Miguel Amaya (ankle) are both on the IL. But honestly, this Cubs team has shown resilience all season long, and guys like Crow-Armstrong have stepped up when needed.
Pittsburgh’s injury list is longer, with Jared Jones and Endy Rodriguez both on the 60-day IL. Those are significant losses for a team that’s already struggling.
Betting Trends That Matter
As Cubs fans, we know our team performs better as underdogs – it’s been that way forever. This season, we’re 17-41 when listed as underdogs, which isn’t great, but something tells me this Pirates team isn’t going to intimidate anybody.
The over/under is set at 7 runs, and with our offense clicking and Pittsburgh’s pitching ranking just 11th in ERA (3.87), I like our chances of putting up some crooked numbers.
My Cubs Fan Prediction
Final Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 3
Total: Over 7 runs
Call it blind faith or call it years of watching this beautiful, frustrating team, but I think we take this one. Horton keeps their struggling offense in check, Hoerner extends his hitting streak, and Crow-Armstrong goes yard at least once.
The Cubs are 86-64 for a reason – we’re playing good baseball when it matters. Pittsburgh might be getting respect from the oddsmakers at -130, but I’ll take our chances any day of the week.
Go Cubs Go! 🐻⚾
Whether you’re watching from Wrigleyville or anywhere else in Cubs Nation, this should be a fun one. Just remember – we’ve seen this team do amazing things when nobody expects it. Tuesday night might just be one of those nights.