As a lifelong Cubs fan, Iโve got to admit โ this Tuesday night matchup against the Pirates has me feeling pretty good about our chances. Sure, weโre 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
Nicoโs Hot Streak Continues
Letโs talk about the elephant in the room โ Nico Hoerner is absolutely locked in right now. A 10-game hitting streak doesnโt just happen by accident, and his .299 batting average leads our team. When Nicoโs 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 Iโve seen from this kid. At 10-4 on the season in his 21st start, heโs shown the kind of composure that reminds me of the great Cubs pitchers of the past. Going up against Paul Skenes (who, letโs be honest, is pretty darn good at 10-9 with a 1.92 ERA) wonโt be easy, but our young righty has what it takes.
Cubs Offense: Built for Success
This Cubs lineup has some serious pop. Pete Crow-Armstrongโs 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 โ 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 isnโt the same Cubs offense thatโs struggled in years past. Weโre averaging 4.9 runs per game, which is a heck of a lot better than Pittsburghโs measly 3.6 runs per contest.
Pittsburghโs Struggles Are Real
Look, I donโt want to pile on the Pirates, but the numbers donโt lie. Theyโre 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 whoโs seen some rough offensive years.
Bryan Reynolds leads their team with a .243 average and 71 RBIs โ solid numbers, but not exactly terrifying for our pitching staff. Andrew McCutchen (.239) and the rest of their lineup just havenโt provided consistent offensive support.
The Injury Report
Weโre dealing with some key injuries โ 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.
Pittsburghโs injury list is longer, with Jared Jones and Endy Rodriguez both on the 60-day IL. Those are significant losses for a team thatโs already struggling.
Betting Trends That Matter
As Cubs fans, we know our team performs better as underdogs โ itโs been that way forever. This season, weโre 17-41 when listed as underdogs, which isnโt great, but something tells me this Pirates team isnโt going to intimidate anybody.
The over/under is set at 7 runs, and with our offense clicking and Pittsburghโs 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 โ weโre playing good baseball when it matters. Pittsburgh might be getting respect from the oddsmakers at -130, but Iโll take our chances any day of the week.
Go Cubs Go!
Whether youโre watching from Wrigleyville or anywhere else in Cubs Nation, this should be a fun one. Just remember โ weโve seen this team do amazing things when nobody expects it. Tuesday night might just be one of those nights.
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