Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs: Preview, Odds & Pitching Matchup for August 16, 2025 at Wrigley Field

Saturday, August 16th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs: Game Preview and Key Matchups at Wrigley Field

The Pittsburgh Pirates (52-71, fifth in the NL Central) travel to face off against the Chicago Cubs (68-53, second in the NL Central) in a Saturday afternoon MLB showdown at Wrigley Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 PM local time, with both teams looking to gain an edge in the competitive NL Central race.

Pitching Probables

The Pirates are set to start Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.66 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 69 strikeouts) on the mound, while the Cubs counter with Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 79 strikeouts). Imanaga’s consistency gives the Cubs an edge, but Burrows will look to build on recent momentum to help Pittsburgh take command.

Weather

Today at Wrigley Field, expect warm baseball weather with temperatures in the mid-80s, mostly sunny skies, and only a slight chance of precipitation. Light winds around 8 mph will have minimal impact on play, making for ideal conditions to enjoy the game.

Game Notes and Trends

Pittsburgh enters the game with a 1-0 edge in the series. The Cubs, with a strong 68-53 overall record and 36-23 at home, have thrived when keeping the ball in the park, posting a 30-10 record in games without allowing a home run. The Pirates, meanwhile, are 18-42 on the road and 52-71 overall, and have posted a 36-21 mark when not surrendering a long ball. This contest marks the ninth meeting between these teams this year, with the Cubs leading the season series 5-3.

Top Performers to Watch

Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 27 home runs and boasts an impressive .523 slugging percentage. Dansby Swanson has been effective recently, going 11-for-37 with a double, two homers, and three RBIs over his last 10 games.

For the Pirates, Isiah Kiner-Falefa sits atop the batting order with a .269 average, 17 doubles, two triples, and one home run. Bryan Reynolds has shown power in recent games, batting .333 (13-for-39) with three home runs and nine RBIs over the last ten contests.

Recent Team Performance

Both the Cubs and Pirates have struggled of late, each recording a 3-7 record in their last ten games. The Cubs are hitting .208 over that span with a 3.03 ERA, being outscored by one run in those contests. The Pirates have a team batting average of .228 in their last ten, but their pitching has given up a 6.31 ERA, leading to a run differential of -34.

Injury Report

The Cubs are currently without catcher Miguel Amaya (10-Day IL, ankle), Mike Soroka (15-Day IL, shoulder), Jameson Taillon (15-Day IL, calf), Eli Morgan (60-Day IL, elbow), and Justin Steele (60-Day IL, elbow).

The Pirates will miss Oneil Cruz (7-Day IL, concussion), Endy Rodriguez (60-Day IL, elbow), Enmanuel Valdez (60-Day IL, shoulder), Justin Lawrence (60-Day IL, elbow), Tim Mayza (60-Day IL, shoulder), and Jared Jones (60-Day IL, elbow) for this matchup.

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs square off at Wrigley Field with the Pirates holding a slight series advantage but the Cubs dominating the season matchup overall. With strong pitching performances anticipated and both teams looking to overcome recent struggles, this game is set to be an exciting battle in ideal weather conditions. Key players like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bryan Reynolds will be crucial to their team’s success as each squad looks to turn their momentum around heading into the later stages of the season.

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