Cubs vs. Pirates odds, line, score prediction, start time: 2024 MLB picks, May 17 best bets from proven model

The Chicago Cubs will look to even up their four-game series at one apiece when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon. Pittsburgh earned a 5-4 win on Thursday, and the teams have split four games so far this season. Chicago has won the previous nine season series against Pittsburgh, including 10 of 13 games last year. The Pirates (20-25), who are 11-13 on the road in 2024, are 12-13 in day games this season. The Cubs (25-20), who are 13-7 on their home field, are 12-10 in day games.

The game is slated to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET from Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs are batting .236 as a team, 17th-best in MLB, while the Pirates are 27th at .223. Pittsburgh is a -119 favorite (risk $119 to win $100) on the money line in the latest Pirates vs. Cubs odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total runs scored is 7.5. Before making any Pirates vs. Cubs picks, be sure to see the MLB predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times. It entered Week 7 of the 2024 MLB season on a profitable 115-91 run on top-rated MLB picks dating back to last season, and it has excelled on top-rated run-line picks during that span, going 20-8 (+708). Anybody following has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Cubs vs. Pirates and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Pirates vs. Cubs:

• Pirates vs. Cubs money line: Pittsburgh -119, Chicago -101
• Pirates vs. Cubs over/under: 7.5 runs
• Pirates vs. Cubs run line: Pittsburgh -1.5 (+147)
• PIT: The Pirates have hit the team total under in 22 of their last 29 games (+14.80 units)
• CHC: The Cubs have hit the money line in 13 of their last 19 games at home (+7.20 units)
• Pirates vs. Cubs picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why you should back the Cubs

Chicago is expected to send right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 10.04 ERA) to the mound. He’s struggled overall but he gave up just two hits and one earned run in his last start against Pittsburgh. Right fielder Mike Tauchman has hits in seven of his previous 10 games, including two in a row. In Wednesday’s 7-1 win at Atlanta, he was 2-for-5 with a homer and RBI. He was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBI in a 10-9 loss at Pittsburgh on Saturday. In 41 games this season, Tauchman is batting .263 with nine doubles, four homers, 13 RBI and 27 runs scored. In 23 career games against the Pirates, he is hitting .244 with two doubles, two homers and 11 RBI.

First baseman Michael Busch continues his solid play, going 1-for-3 with a double in Thursday’s loss. He is on a three-game hitting streak, and has recorded 10 multi-hit games on the year. In a 3-2 win over San Diego on May 7, he was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. In 42 games this season, he is batting .254 with eight doubles, one triple, seven homers and 20 RBI. See which team to pick here.

Why you should back the Pirates

Rookie right-hander Paul Skenes (0-0, 6.75 ERA), the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, will start for Pittsburgh. This will be his second start at the MLB level. In his rookie debut on Saturday, he allowed six hits, three runs — all earned — with two walks and seven strikeouts in four innings of work in the Pirates’ 10-9 win over the Cubs. In seven minor league appearances with Indianapolis earlier this year, he was 0-0 with a 0.99 ERA. In 27.1 innings, he allowed 17 hits, four runs — three earned — with eight walks and 45 strikeouts.

Right fielder Connor Joe has been a spark plug for the Pirates. In 38 games this season, he is batting .285 with six homers, 22 RBI and 24 runs scored. He was 1-for-4 on Thursday against the Cubs and has a double, two homers and five RBI against them this season in three appearances. In 25 career games against Chicago, he is hitting .379 with eight doubles, one triple, six homers and 17 RBI. See which team to pick here.

How to make Pirates vs. Cubs picks