Pirates vs. Cubs prediction: Why Cubs are favored to win Sunday's MLB matchup [9/13/2026]

The Chicago Cubs will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in MLB action at Wrigley Field on Sunday, commencing at 2:20 PM ET.

Matthew Boyd (8-4, 4.03 ERA) will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs, up against Bubba Chandler (7-9, 4.25 ERA) for the Pirates.

Dimers' advanced MLB model projects the Cubs as the most likely winner in this Pirates vs. Cubs prediction.

This article offers an expanded analysis of Sunday's matchup, including best bets and picks.

Pirates vs. Cubs prediction and odds

Using trusted machine learning and data analysis, we have re-simulated the outcome of Sunday's MLB game between the Pirates and Cubs, forming part of our MLB predictions coverage.

Our leading predictive model currently gives the Cubs a 59.8% chance of defeating the Pirates. According to our model, the Pirates (+1.5) have a 56.9% chance of covering the run line, while the over/under total of seven runs has a 56.9% chance of going over.

Latest betting odds

We have researched the best MLB odds in America for this game, which are listed here:

• Run Line: Pirates +1.5 (-150) / Cubs -1.5 (+160)
• Moneyline: Pirates +156, Cubs -140
• Total: Over/Under 7 (+100/+100)

All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Model picks and best bet

After matching our predictions against the best available odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets in this matchup. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:

• Run line: Cubs -1.5 @ +160 via bet365
• Moneyline: Cubs @ -140 via bet365
• Total: Over 7 @ +100 via bet365

According to our MLB best bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 7 total runs.

These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the current available odds.

Game info & first pitch details

Sunday's MLB matchup between the Cubs and Pirates at Wrigley Field is scheduled to commence at 2:20 PM ET.

• Who: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Time: 2:20 PM ET/11:20AM PT
• Venue: Wrigley Field

Conclusion

We predict the Cubs, with a 59.8% win probability, will likely beat the Pirates in Sunday's MLB matchup.

Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.

This article's predictions and probabilities are generated by Dimers' proprietary MLB prediction model. Our editorial team reviews the resulting content for accuracy and presentation before publication.