Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs: Game Preview, Odds, and Key Players for August 15, 2025 at Wrigley Field

Friday, August 15th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs: MLB Showdown at Wrigley Field

The Pittsburgh Pirates travel to Wrigley Field to face the Chicago Cubs in a classic National League Central matchup. The Pirates, currently sitting fifth in the NL Central with a 51-71 record, are eager to snap a five-game losing streak. The Cubs, meanwhile, are second in the division at 68-52 and look to strengthen their push for the postseason in front of their home crowd.

Weather

Today at Wrigley Field, expect warm baseball conditions with temperatures in the low 80s and mostly sunny skies. There's little chance of precipitation, so play shouldn't be interrupted by rain. Winds will be light and variable, providing minimal impact on fly balls and overall gameplay.

Pitching Probables

Braxton Ashcraft (3-2, 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 33 strikeouts) is set to take the mound for the Pirates, looking to keep Cubs hitters in check. Colin Rea (9-5, 4.09 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 85 strikeouts) counters for Chicago, hoping to capitalize on home-field advantage. The betting odds favor the Cubs at -202, while the Pirates are +166. The over/under is set at 9 runs.

Team Records and Season Series

The Cubs have been formidable at Wrigley Field with a 36-22 home record and boast the 10th-best team on-base percentage in Major League Baseball at .321. The Pirates have struggled on the road, posting a 17-42 record away from home and just 16-50 in games where they allow a home run. This game marks the eighth meeting between these two teams this season, with Chicago holding a 5-2 edge in the season series.

Top Performers

Nico Hoerner leads the Cubs with a .293 batting average, 19 doubles, three triples, and four home runs. Dansby Swanson has contributed significantly lately, collecting 11 hits in his last 37 at-bats, including two home runs and four RBIs across the past 10 games.

For the Pirates, Bryan Reynolds tallies 26 doubles, three triples, and 13 home runs. Nick Gonzales has been a consistent presence recently, going 15-for-42 with two doubles and three RBIs in his last 10 appearances.

Recent Form

In their last 10 games, the Cubs are 4-6 with a .221 batting average and a 3.03 ERA, narrowly outscoring opponents by two runs. The Pirates have gone 3-7 over the same stretch, posting a .229 average and a 6.52 ERA while being outscored by 34 runs.

Injury Report

The Cubs are dealing with several key injuries, including Miguel Amaya (ankle), Mike Soroka (shoulder), Jameson Taillon (calf), Eli Morgan (elbow), and Justin Steele (elbow) all sidelined.

The Pirates have also been hit by the injury bug, with Oneil Cruz (concussion), Endy Rodriguez (elbow), Enmanuel Valdez (shoulder), Justin Lawrence (elbow), Tim Mayza (shoulder), and Jared Jones (elbow) currently unavailable.

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to end their losing streak and close the season series gap as they take on the playoff-contending Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. With strong pitching matchups, standout performers on both sides, and ideal weather conditions, fans can expect an exciting contest between two historic rivals in the heart of Chicago.

MLB Schedules

Today's MLB Games

There are no baseball games today.

Tomorrow's MLB Games

There are no baseball games tomorrow.

Yesterday's MLB Games

There were no baseball games yesterday.