SITR NOTE: “Three up, three down,” the review of the previous week for the Cubs, will run tomorrow, since today’s a holiday and there’s an afternoon game today.
The Cubs have lost eight straight. That, you already know. The Pirates have lost six of their last nine. Something’s gotta give in this four-game series.
For more on the Pirates, here’s Ethan Coulehan, a writer at our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
After losing four games in a row the Pirates bounced back and won the last two games in their
series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Those last two games in St. Louis were huge for Pittsburgh to get back to winning ways and snap the losing streak they had vs. the Cardinals. Then they lost two of three over the weekend in Toronto, taking the series finale behind a solid outing from Mitch Keller.
The Pirates are about to start another big divisional series when they face off against the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh is 2-1 this season against Chicago, winning the first series. The first game was on April 10th at Wrigley Field where the only scoring came from a two run home run by Bryan Reynolds. The Pirates then won the second game 4-3 in 11 innings which is just the third extra inning victory for Pittsburgh this season. The third game of the series ended with a Cubs walk off single by Carson Kelly.
The largest deficit in that series was just two runs. That shows that these teams are very even and well matched. That was a big series for Brandon Lowe who had two home runs. It was also a solid series for Reynolds, who had three RBI.
The Bucs historically have struggled against the Cubs. The Buccos went just 3-10 vs Chicago last season. In those 13 games in 2025 against Chicago the Pirates did not score more than four runs. They snapped that streak this season after their 7-6 victory.
This is going to be the first time this season that these two teams will meet at PNC Park. In 2025 the pirates only won one game vs the Cubs at home.
Carmen Mlodzinski, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler and Paul Skenes are the set starters for the four game series. It is very important for the starting pitching to step up and produce. Ashcraft’s last performance, where he threw seven innings and had nine strikeouts and just one earned run allowed, is a very good sign for Pittsburgh.
This is going to be a tough series because of the lack of success the Pirates have had throughout the years against the Cubs. It is important for the Buccos to at least take two out of three against what is arguably their biggest divisional rival.
Fun facts
A sweep of the four-game series would raise the Cubs’ regular-season victory total at Pittsburgh to 600 since the rivalry began in 1887. Their 596 wins there are the most anywhere outside Chicago. Next most are 579 at Philadelphia and 566 at St. Louis.
The Cubs’ last four-game sweep at Pittsburgh was Aug. 1-4, 2011. This will be their 13th four-game set there since then.
The Cubs won three games in each of their last two four-game series at Pittsburgh, in 2022 and 2023. In all games there since 2021, the Cubs are 27-9.
The Cubs’ 712 losses at Pittsburgh are their most by far on the road. They have lost 642 at Cincinnati and 635 to the Giants at New York and San Francisco.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Monday: Ben Brown, RHP (1-2, 2.09 ERA, 0.983 WHIP, 2.36 FIP) vs. Carmen Mlodzinski, RHP (4-3, 3.96 ERA, 1.400 WHIP, 2.98 FIP)
Tuesday: TBD vs. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (3-2, 2.89 ERA, 1.027 WHIP, 3.16 FIP)
Wednesday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (2-4, 5.20 ERA, 1.265 WHIP, 6.46 FIP) vs. Bubba Chandler, RHP (1-6, 4.79 ERA, 1.468 WHIP, 5.25 FIP)
Thursday: Colin Rea, RHP (4-3, 4.83 ERA, 1.370 WHIP, 4.43 FIP) vs. Paul Skenes, RHP (6-4, 3.00 ERA, 0.817 WHIP, 2.87 FIP)
NOTE: As of the time of this series preview posting, the Cubs did not have any starters listed past Monday. Tuesday would have been Edward Cabrera’s turn, but as you know, he’s now on the IL. That game could be started by Jordan Wicks, who was recalled Sunday to take Cabrera’s spot on the active roster. Wicks last started for Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, so he’d be on normal rest for a Tuesday start. Wednesday and Thursday would be Taillon’s and Rea’s turns if the Cubs stay on rotation, so I’m listing them here as “probable.”
Times & TV channels
Monday: 12:35 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
(NOTE: This was originally scheduled as a night game but the Pirates moved it to afternoon — at the request of their season-ticket holders!)
Tuesday: 5:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 5:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Thursday: 5:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
If you look at the pitching matchups above, you’d think the Cubs don’t have much of a chance here. But that losing streak has to end sometime, right?
At this point I’ll be happy if the Cubs can get out of Pittsburgh with a split of this four-game set.
Up next
The Cubs travel to St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals beginning Friday evening.
