Andrew Heaney has been one of the only bright spots for a bad Pittsburgh Pirates team this season.
My Cubs vs. Pirates predictions expect him to continue his strong form and hold his own against an NL Central division rival.
Let’s take a closer look at my MLB picks for April 29.
Cubs vs Pirates prediction
My Cubs vs Pirates best bet: Andrew Heaney Under 5.5 hits allowed (-140 at bet365)
Andrew Heaney has hit the ground running for his new team. He boasts an impressive 1.72 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, with his underlying metrics also being strong across the board.
Heaney has thrown strikes at an extremely high rate, limited barrels, and induced plenty of ground balls. Given all that, it’s no surprise he’s done a great job of limiting hits.
Heaney has allowed just 3.6 hits per start and has held opponents to five or fewer each time out. While he's benefited from a few soft opponents, Heaney did manage to go Under against Top 5 scoring offenses like the New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds.
The Chicago Cubs are a dangerous offense as well, but there are a few sticking points that attract me to Heaney in this spot.
For one, the Cubs draw a ton of walks and are excellent at working up pitch counts. They rank third with a walk rate of 12.4% against lefties, which should help draw out at bats and lead to fewer hits allowed.
There are also weather concerns later in this game, which could lead to a delay and an earlier pull than we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from Heaney. He's completed at least six innings in four straight games — I’m not sure he’ll have that opportunity in this one.
Add it all up and Heaney should continue limiting hits in this game.
Cubs vs Pirates same-game parlay (SGP)
Andrew Heaney Under 5.5 hits allowed
Shota Imanaga Under 5.5 hits allowed
Cubs moneyline
Shota Imanaga has allowed five hits or less in four of six starts this season. The exceptions came against a powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers team and a Texas Rangers squad ranked third in barrel rate vs. lefties this season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a massive step down in competition from either of those teams. They're hitting just .218 against left-handed pitchers this season and rank in the bottom half of the league in terms of contact percentage.
Imanaga feasted on the Pirates last season, allowing four hits and zero earned runs over two head-to-head meetings. There’s no reason to expect much different this time around.
Rounding out the parlay is a bet on the Cubbies. They lead their division and rank Top 5 in run differential despite facing one of the league’s hardest schedules to date.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Cubs vs Pirates odds
Cubs vs Pirates live odds
Cubs vs Pirates opening odds
- Moneyline: Chicago -150 | Pittsburgh +125
- Run line: Chicago -1.5 (+105) | Pittsburgh +1.5 (-125)
- Over/Under: Over 8.5 | Under 8.5
Cubs vs Pirates trend
The Chicago Cubs have hit the moneyline in 15 of their last 23 games (+6.50 Units / 22% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Pirates.
How to watch Cubs vs Pirates and game info
| Location | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Date | Tuesday, 4-29-2025 |
| First pitch | 6:40 p.m. ET |
| TV | Marquee, SportsNet Pittsburgh |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Matthew Boyd (2-2, 2.54 ERA) |
| Pirates starting pitcher | Carmen Mlodzinski (1-3, 6.95 ERA) |
Cubs vs Pirates latest injuries
Cubs vs Pirates weather
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