At Wrigley Field on Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (20-25) meet the Chicago Cubs (25-20), with first pitch at 2:20 PM ET.

The Pirates (-112 moneyline odds to win) and the Cubs (-107) will square off in an expected close matchup. The matchup on the mound for this contest is set with the Pittsburgh Pirates looking to Paul Skenes, and Kyle Hendricks (0-3) answering the bell for the Chicago Cubs.

The Pirates defeated the Cubs 5-4 yesterday, with Jared Jones getting the win (6.0 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 7 K) and Edward Olivares leading the way offensively (going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBI). Justin Steele (5.2 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 7 K) took the loss for the Cubs.

Here’s what you need to get ready for Friday’s Pirates vs. Cubs matchup, including viewing options.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs odds and betting lines

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Friday at 9:16 AM ET. For a full list of Sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

  • Favorite: Pirates (-112, bet $112 to win $100)
  • Underdog: Cubs (-107, bet $107 to win $100)
  • Over/under: 7.5

Pirates vs. Cubs: Live streaming info & game time

  • Game Day: Friday, May 17, 2024
  • Game Time: 2:20 PM ET
  • Stadium: Wrigley Field
  • TV Channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh
  • Live Stream: Fubo (Watch for free)

Pirates stats and trends

Pirates betting records

  • This season, the Pirates have been favored 17 times and won six, or 35.3%, of those games.
  • Pittsburgh is 6-11 this season when entering a game favored by -112 or more on the moneyline.
  • Sportsbooks have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Pirates have a 52.8% chance to win.
  • So far this season, Pittsburgh and its opponents have hit the over in 20 of 45 games with a total.
  • The Pirates are 22-22-0 against the spread this season.

Paul Skenes (Pirates probable starter)

  • The Pirates will look to Skenes (0-0) in his second start this season.
  • His last time out came on Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, when the righty tossed four innings, surrendering three earned runs while allowing six hits.
  • In one appearance this season, he has a 6.75 ERA and 15.8 strikeouts per nine innings, while opponents are batting .353 against him.
  • The opposing Cubs offense has a collective .236 batting average, and is 15th in the league with 353 total hits and ninth in MLB action with 206 runs scored. It has the 14th-ranked slugging percentage (.388) and ranks 11th in home runs (47) in all of MLB.
  • Skenes has a 6.75 ERA and a 2 WHIP against the Cubs this season in four innings pitched, allowing a .353 batting average over one appearance.

Pirates batting stats

  • The Pirates rank 18th in Major League Baseball with 42 home runs.
  • Hitters for Pittsburgh have combined to rank 26th in MLB with a team slugging percentage of just .352 this season.
  • The Pirates rank 27th in MLB with a team batting average of just .223.
  • Pittsburgh has scored 168 runs (3.7 per game) this season, which ranks 23rd in MLB.
  • The Pirates have the 25th-ranked on-base percentage in MLB this season (.300).
  • Pittsburgh is one of the least-disciplined teams at the plate this season, ranking 27th with an average of 9.4 strikeouts per game.

Cubs stats and trends

Cubs betting records

  • The Cubs have won in 14, or 51.9%, of the 27 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs this year.
  • Chicago has a win-loss record of 13-13 when favored by -107 or worse by bookmakers this year.
  • Bookmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Cubs have a 51.7% chance of pulling out a win.
  • Chicago’s games have gone over the total in 19 of its 45 opportunities.
  • The Cubs are 23-21-0 against the spread in their 44 games that had a posted line this season.

Kyle Hendricks (Cubs probable starter)

  • Hendricks makes the start for the Cubs, his seventh of the season. He is 0-3 with a 10.04 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings pitched.
  • His most recent appearance came on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, when the right-hander tossed five innings, surrendering one earned run while allowing two hits.
  • In six games this season, the 34-year-old has put up an ERA of 10.04, with 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Opponents are batting .342 against him.
  • Hendricks has not registered a quality start so far this season.
  • Hendricks has pitched five or more innings in a game two times this year entering this game.
  • He surrendered at least one earned run in each of his outings in 2024.
  • The opposing Pirates offense has the 26th-ranked slugging percentage (.352) and ranks 18th in home runs hit (42) in all of MLB. They have a collective .223 batting average, and are 21st in the league with 338 total hits and 23rd in MLB action scoring 168 runs.
  • Hendricks has thrown five innings, giving up one earned run on two hits while striking out five against the Pirates this season.

Cubs batting stats

  • The Cubs average one home run per game to rank 11th in baseball with 47 total home runs .
  • This season, Chicago ranks 14th in baseball, slugging .388.
  • The Cubs have the 17th-ranked batting average in the league (.236).
  • Chicago scores the ninth-most runs in baseball (206 total, 4.6 per game).
  • The Cubs are 10th in MLB with an on-base percentage of .318.
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