Find the Official Lineup for Cubs vs Pirates – 4/29/2025

Chicago Cubs

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Pittsburgh Pirates

As the Pittsburgh Pirates gear up to face the Chicago Cubs on April 29, 2025, at PNC Park, both teams are entering the matchup with contrasting fortunes. The Pirates, currently struggling with an 11-18 record, recently suffered a heavy loss to the Cubs, falling 9-2 in their last game on April 27. Meanwhile, the Cubs are riding high, boasting a 17-12 record and looking to capitalize on their strong start.

This clash features two left-handed pitchers, Andrew Heaney for the Pirates and Shota Imanaga for the Cubs. Heaney, ranked 191st out of approximately 350 pitchers according to advanced-stat Power Rankings, has had a rocky season despite an impressive 1.72 ERA. However, his peripherals suggest he has been benefitting from some luck, and he projects to allow 3.0 earned runs today. In contrast, Imanaga, who ranks 86th, has also faced challenges, having been hit hard in his last outing, allowing 5 earned runs over 6 innings. Nonetheless, he carries a solid 3.18 ERA into this contest.

Offensively, the contrast is stark; the Cubs rank 2nd in MLB, while the Pirates sit at 24th. The Cubs’ ability to generate runs is bolstered by their best hitter, who has a 0.976 OPS and has been particularly hot lately, posting a .421 batting average over the last week.

Given these dynamics, the projections favor the Cubs, who not only have a stronger lineup but also a more reliable pitcher on the mound. The Pirates will need a significant turnaround to overcome the odds and claim victory in this series opener.

Chicago Cubs Insights

• Chicago Cubs – 1st Five Innings (F5) Moneyline (-150)
  Shota Imanaga is an extreme flyball pitcher (42.1% FB% via the leading projection system, THE BAT) and should be aided by pitching in the #26 HR venue among all parks in this game.
  Explain: This pitcher’s skill set matches up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to better-than-usual performance.
• Seiya Suzuki – Over/Under 1.5 Total Bases (+115/-150)
  Seiya Suzuki has seen a big increase in his exit velocity recently; just compare his 98.2-mph average in the last 7 days to his seasonal 93.1-mph average.
  Explain: Hitting the ball hard increases the chances of either a home run or the ball landing in fair territory for a hit before a fielder can get to it.
• The 9.6% Barrel% of the Chicago Cubs grades them out as the #9 squad in MLB this year by this stat.
  Explain: Barrel% measures how often a player hits the ball at the optimal exit velocity and launch angle and is a terrific measure of underlying power.

Pittsburgh Pirates Insights

• Andrew Heaney – Over/Under 4.5 Strikeouts (-120/-110)
  Andrew Heaney has gone to his curveball 12% more often this year (15.7%) than he did last season (3.7%).
  Explain: Because curveballs are one of the most effective pitches to use, a pitcher who alters his pitch mix to use more of them will often see more success as a result.
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa – Over/Under 0.5 Hits (-155/+120)
  Chicago’s #3-ranked outfield defense on the slate today poses a formidable challenge for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who tends to hit a lot of flyballs.
  Explain: This player’s skill set matches up poorly with the opposing team’s defensive strength, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.
• Joey Bart – Over/Under 0.5 Total Bases (-170/+130)
  Joey Bart pulls a lot of his flyballs (33.8% — 80th percentile) but may find it hard to clear the game’s 11th-deepest LF fences in today’s game.
  Explain: This player’s skill set does not match up particularly well with the park he’s in today, which may lead to worse-than-usual performance.

Betting Trends

• Pittsburgh Pirates – Over/Under 1.5 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total (-140/+110)
  The Pittsburgh Pirates have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Team Total Over in 6 of their last 10 games (+2.55 Units / 23% ROI)
• Chicago Cubs – 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line -0.5 (-105)
  The Chicago Cubs have hit the 1st Five Innings (F5) Run Line in 20 of their last 27 games (+12.20 Units / 37% ROI)
• Michael Busch – Over/Under 0.5 Runs (+145/-190)
  Michael Busch has hit the Runs Over in 9 of his last 15 away games (+6.35 Units / 41% ROI)