Cubs vs. Pirates odds, line, prediction: 2026 MLB picks for Monday, May 25, from proven model

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Chicago Cubs for a Memorial Day matinee to begin a four-game series between the NL Central counterparts. The Cubs (29-24) are bottoming out, mired in an eight-game losing streak after getting swept in six straight at home to Milwaukee and Houston. Pittsburgh (27-26) returns home after a 3-3 road trip to St. Louis and Toronto. Ben Brown (1-2, 2.09 ERA) goes for the Cubs, while the Pirates start Carmen Mlodzinski (4-3, 3.96). 

First pitch from PNC Park is set for 1:35 p.m. ET. Chicago is a slight -112 favorite on the money line (risk $112 to win $100) while Pittsburgh is at -104 in the latest Cubs vs. Pirates odds. The over/under for total runs is 8. 

Before making any Cubs vs. Pirates picks, or MLB predictions, you NEED to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and enters Week 9 of the MLB season on a sizzling 12-1 run on all top-rated MLB picks. It also excelled at making home run prop picks in 2025, returning nearly 30 units of profit. Anybody following could have seen strong returns!   

The model has simulated Cubs vs. Pirates 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is going Over on the total, and is also says one side of the money line has ALL the value!

Who wins Pirates vs. Cubs, and which side of the money line has ALL the value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Cubs vs. Pirates money line you should be all over, all from the model that enters Week 9 of the MLB season on a red-hot 12-1 run!