The Pittsburgh Pirates approach their September 17, 2025 matchup against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park with the mindset of a team seeking to salvage pride and build momentum for the future, even as their postseason hopes have long been extinguished. This season has been another chapter in their rebuilding journey, one filled with flashes of promise but marred by inconsistency in nearly every aspect of the game. Offensively, the Pirates have struggled to find a reliable rhythm, often ranking near the bottom of the league in runs scored, batting average, and on-base percentage, a reflection of a lineup that too frequently stalls with runners in scoring position and lacks the depth to sustain long rallies. They have a handful of players who can produce impact performances on any given night, but the lack of continuity across the order has made it difficult to generate the kind of pressure that consistently challenges opposing pitchers. When they do break through, it often comes in isolated innings rather than steady offensive production, which leaves their pitching staff with minimal run support and little margin for error. On the mound, Paul Skenes has emerged as a beacon of hope, showing dominance and poise that suggest he could be a future ace around whom the Pirates can build, but beyond him the rotation has been erratic.

Scheduled starter Johan Oviedo has shown glimpses of potential, with stretches where his stuff has kept even strong lineups in check, but his inability to consistently pitch deep into games has put a heavy burden on a bullpen that has been overexposed and ineffective in too many critical moments. The bullpen’s struggles have been particularly costly, as late-inning collapses have erased competitive efforts earlier in games, eroding confidence and frustrating both players and fans. Defensively, the Pirates have been inconsistent as well, committing untimely errors and lapses in execution that not only extend innings but also lead to unearned runs, a crippling issue for a team already struggling to generate offense. At PNC Park, they have been slightly more competitive against the spread, suggesting they can keep games closer at home, but moral victories have not been enough to change the trajectory of their season. From a betting perspective, the Pirates present value only as a spoiler, as they occasionally rise to the occasion when underestimated, but those moments have been too rare to trust. For this contest, their path to victory is narrow but not impossible: they must score early to give themselves confidence and take pressure off Oviedo, they must play sharp defense to avoid giving Chicago extra opportunities, and the bullpen must rise above its season-long struggles to hold any lead or close deficit intact. The Pirates are well aware that the Cubs have dominated the season series, and this knowledge can either serve as discouragement or as motivation to prove capable of competing against a superior opponent. Ultimately, this game is less about standings and more about evaluation for Pittsburgh, as their young players have a chance to test themselves against a playoff-bound club, and a win here would serve as a small but meaningful reminder that progress, even in a difficult season, remains possible.