The Pirates have some young talent but failed to spend this offseason, leaving the club in flux for 2025.
Pittsburgh's pitching staff is stacked. Paul Skenes is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young, and Jared Jones and Mitch Keller are excellent complements to the young ace. While Bryan Reynolds anchors the batting order, the Bucs lack the offensive depth to give them a shot in the NL Central.
In this 2025 Pirates season preview, I’ll explore the latest odds, highlight key projections, and uncover the best bets for the team this year.
2025 Pirates Odds: Division, NL Pennant, World Series
| World Series Odds | NL Pennant Odds | NL Central Odds |
|---|---|---|
| +10,000 | +5000 | +1000 |
Odds as of March 11
The odds paint a very sad portrait of the Pirates' upcoming season. The NL Central isn't super competitive, yet PIT finds itself at +1000 odds to win the division. The Bucs are also near the bottom of the Senior Circuit in NL Pennant odds, ahead of only the Cards, Nationals, Rockies, and Marlins.
2025 Pirates Win Total Odds
| 2025 Win Total | OVER | UNDER |
|---|---|---|
| 76.5 | -110 | -110 |
Odds as of March 11
The Pirates won 76 games last year, so many folks might expect a better season from PIT with the Cardinals tanking in 2025 and the Brewers fielding a weaker roster on paper. I don't buy it. I look at this lineup and I do not see a 76-win team. The pitching staff is great, but one of Skenes, Keller, or Jones is ripe for a serious injury — I don't mean to put that out in the world; I'm just being pragmatic.
There is nowhere near enough punch from this Pirates' offense, so I'll fade the club UNDER 76.5 wins.
2025 Pirates Playoff Odds
| To Make Playoffs | To Miss Playoffs |
|---|---|
| +375 | -550 |
Odds as of March 11
The Pirates won't make the postseason in 2025.
2025 Pirates: NL MVP Odds + NL Cy Young Odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paul Skenes (MVP) | +5000 |
Odds as of March 11
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Paul Skenes | +275 |
| Jared Jones | +5000 |
Odds as of March 11
I'm not touching Skenes to win MVP, but he's a natural favorite for the NL Cy Young. In his rookie season last year, he dazzled with 133 innings pitched, 170 strikeouts, and a 1.96 ERA, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors and starting the All-Star Game. While the Pirates may manage his workload, his talent makes him the clear favorite for the 2025 NL Cy Young, and I’ll place a unit or two on him at the current odds, which fairly weigh his upside against the injury/workload risk.
Jones is another intriguing prospect. He pitched fairly (101 ERA+) over 22 starts, displaying some impressive velocity and stuff in the process. He's an intriguing breakout candidate at +5000, but the NL has some stiff competition for the Cy Young award. I wouldn't bet Jones, but I'll watch his progress closely.
