Pirates vs Cubs MLB Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (5/17): Can Chicago Bounce Back?

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The Pittsburgh Pirates (20-25) and Chicago Cubs (25-20) will play their second game in as many days when they collide at Wrigley Field for a 2:20 p.m. ET showdown on Friday, May 17.

A win in Chi-Town.#RaiseIt pic.twitter.com/4ocK77ni8z

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 17, 2024

The Pirates opened the four-game series with a hard-fought 5-4 win over the Cubs on Thursday. The teams traded runs throughout the contest as Edward Olivares and Nick Gonzales each tallied home runs to help lead Pittsburgh to victory.

Will Pittsburgh take a 2-0 series lead with another win this afternoon? Or does Chicago have what it takes to bounce back in the Windy City?

Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about this afternoon’s matchup, ranging from my Pirates vs. Cubs predictions to the best MLB picks you can make today.

2024 MLB Betting Picks Record: 15-8-0 (65.2%)

Pirates vs Cubs MLB Betting Today (5/17)

Pirates vs Cubs Game Information

• Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates (20-25, 11-13 Away) vs. Chicago Cubs (25-20, 13-7 Home)
• Venue & Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, IL)
• Date: Friday, May 17, 2024
• Game Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
• How to Watch Pirates vs. Cubs: MLB Network

Pirates vs Cubs MLB Probable Pitchers

• Pirates: Paul Skenes (1 start — 0-0, 6.75 ERA)
• Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (6 starts— 0-3, 10.04 ERA)

Cubs vs Pirates MLB Odds & Spread

Cubs vs. Pirates MLB odds are courtesy of BetOnline as of Friday, May 17 at 10:45 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Pirates vs Cubs Run Line

• Pittsburgh Pirates -1.5 (+157)
• Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-177)

Cubs vs Pirates Over/Under

• Over 7.5 Runs (+102)
• Under 7.5 Runs (-122)

Pirates vs Cubs Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Pirates (-106)
• Chicago Cubs (-104)

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Pirates vs Cubs MLB Betting Trends

• Pittsburgh is 3-10 straight up in its last 13 road games.
• The Cubs are 4-2 straight up in their last six games on Friday.
• The total hit the Over in seven of Pittsburgh’s last nine games.
• The total hit the Under in seven of the Cubs’ last 10 home games.
• The total hit the Over in eight of the last nine Pirates-Cubs matchups.

Pirates vs Cubs Predictions & MLB Picks Today (5/17)

The Pirates may have won last night, but time will tell if that was a fluke or the start of a winning streak. Let’s not forget that they had lost six of their last eight games ahead of yesterday’s tilt, so it’s easy to see why people might not be ready to fully trust Derek Shelton’s club.

Unfortunately, the Pirates don’t have the greatest track record in away games this season. They’ve dropped 10 of their last 13 road games and were held to three or fewer runs in each of those losses Additionally, Pittsburgh is also 1-5 SU across its last six games played on a Friday.

On the flip side, all eyes are on the Cubs to see if they can bounce back. Chicago has been struggling to consistently win games throughout May and has now fallen to 2-4 SU across its last six games, allowing an average of 4.8 runs in those matchups.

Having said that, the Cubs have won four of their last six Friday games.

The Cubs have struggled to string together victories this month. 

If the Pirates are going to win again, Paul Skenes must have a better start on the mound. The former 2023 first-overall pick made his MLB debut against the Cubs last Saturday but things didn’t go as he planned, allowing three earned runs on six hits across four innings. He did strike out seven betters, though, so it’ll be interesting to see if he picks up from where he left off.

As for the Cubs, they need better from Kyle Hendricks, who is 0-3 with a 10.04 ERA through his first six starts. He did, however, secure a win over the Pirates last week when he tallied five Ks with one run allowed in five innings.

With that in mind, I’m taking the Cubs to win today. The Pirates have been putrid on the road and the jury is still out as to whether or not Skenes is MLB-ready. I could see another back-and-forth contest with the home crowd giving Chicago an edge.

I also recommend backing the Over on the 7.5-run total. After all, the Over is 8-1 in the last nine Pirates-Cubs matchups, seeing an average of 13.6 runs per game scored with each of those contests producing at least nine runs.

Considering how more than 7.5 runs have been scored in each of Hendricks’ 2024 starts, backing the Over is a no-brainer.

Pirates vs Cubs MLB Prediction: CHC wins

Best Pirates vs Cubs Bet: o7.5 Total Runs (+102)

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Best Pirates vs Cubs MLB Player Prop (5/17)

While a few Pirates vs. Cubs props stand out, I’m going with the Over on Kyle Hendricks’ 4.5-strikeout total (+110).

Although he’s only hit the Over on this prop twice this season, Hendricks did so in each of his last two starts — including five Ks vs. the Pirates on May 12. The good news for the veteran hurler is that Pittsburgh is averaging the 26th-most strikeouts in the Majors and has finished five of its last eight games with at least 10 Ks.

Even if he’s been far from perfect this season, I like Hendricks’ chances of reaching at least five strikeouts.

Pirates vs. Cubs MLB Prop Bet: Kyle Hendricks o4.5 Strikeouts (+110)

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