The Cubs are 7-3 against the Pirates so far this year and have outscored them 38-21 in the 10 games.
However, those numbers have an interesting split. The Cubs won two of three at PNC Park at the end of April/beginning of May and outscored the Bucs 20-7 in those games. In taking five of seven from Pittsburgh at Wrigley Field, the Cubs outscored the Pirates just 18-14.
So it’s clear: Cubs hitters love hitting at PNC Park. Keep it up this week, guys.
For more on the Pirates, here’s Austin Bechtold, a writer
for our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold the second best odds (21.54 percent) to land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft.
Only two weeks remain in a season that has provided ups and downs with more valleys than peaks over the course of 150 games.
The Pirates are 65-85, 20 games under .500 and in jeopardy of missing their win total (76) from the past two seasons.
After sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park, the Pirates were swept by the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and dropped three one-run games to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards. The first two losses in Baltimore were in extra innings.
The Bucs have lost eight of their last nine and the positive momentum built by pushing around the Dodgers and taking two out of three from the Boston Red Sox the series prior has evaporated.
Pittsburgh’s offense remains last in runs scored per game (3.6) and 28th in hits (7.7). Pitching continues to be the backbone of the franchise.
Baseball’s top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler proved why he has potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter in the Pirates lone win during this stretch.
Chandler pitched a perfect game into the sixth in Washington, finishing the day with six frames of one-run ball. He allowed two hits and struck out seven on just 81 pitches. Chandler didn’t allow a walk in the contest, one of the key issues he had in the Minor Leagues.
The Cubs won’t see Chandler, but they will face Paul Skenes. Braxton Ashcraft gets the ball at PNC Park on Monday opposite former Pirate Jameson Taillon.
It’s Skenes Day on Tuesday in a thrilling matchup opposite Cubs young ace Cade Horton. Skenes owns the lowest ERA for a starting pitcher (1.94) in MLB history through 53 starts, dating back to 1920.
He owns a 1.92 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and surpassed 200 strikeouts (203) for the first time in his career.
Skenes’ 10-9 record is one of the most astonishing stats in baseball. It’s an indictment on the Pirates offense and the need for Ben Cherington to acquire two or three dependable hitters of significance.
Johan Oviedo starts Wednesday and will oppose lefty Matthew Boyd in the last home divisional series of 2025.
The Pirates have the pitching to play spoiler hand Chicago a few losses in the NL Wild Card race, but it comes down to if the offense can score enough runs to support one of the best young pitching staffs in the entire sport this season.
It’s the question spanning the last two seasons since Skenes has gotten here. They still need to do substantial moves to fix it, and make a significant difference in Pittsburgh.
Fun facts
The three games of this series will raise the total number of games between the Cubs and Pirates to 2,621, which is 98 more than the Cubs have played against any other opponent. They have played 2,523 vs. the Cardinals, which is 98 more than their third most of 2,425 vs. the Reds.
The Cub’ all-time winning percentage against the Pirates, .493, is their second lowest vs. any pre-expansion rival. They are .483 vs. the Giants, .496 vs. the Dodgers and above .500 vs. the Reds (.505), Cardinals (.510), Phillies (.524) and Braves (.541).
The Cubs have 85 more wins than losses against the Pirates at home and 119 more losses than wins at Pittsburgh. But the Cubs are 16-4 in their last six series at PNC Park, including a three-game sweep in their final visit a year ago and two wins in three games earlier this season.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Monday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (9-6, 4.15 ERA, 1.111 WHIP, 4.97 FIP) vs. Braxton Ashcraft, RHP (4-2, 2.47 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 2.86 FIP)
Tuesday: Cade Horton, RHP (10-4, 2.70 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 3.63 FIP) vs. Paul Skenes, RHP (10-9, 1.92 ERA, 0.921 WHIP, 2.35 FIP)
Wednesday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (13-8, 3.05 ERA, 1.074 WHIP, 3.54 FIP) vs. Johan Oviedo, RHP (2-0, 2.81 ERA, 1.169 WHIP, 3.77 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Monday: 5:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Pirates market territories)
Tuesday: 5:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 11:35 a.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network (and MLB Network outside the Cubs and Pirates market territories)
Prediction
The Pirates have been a bit better since the All-Star break (39-58 before, 26-27 after) but the Cubs are 7-3 against them this year. The Cubs also took two of three last time they were at PNC Park, although that was back in April when Cubs bats were hitting well.
They have to face Paul Skenes, but have hit him reasonably well in the past and have their hottest pitcher, Cade Horton, against him.
They should take two of three, and fingers crossed for a sweep.
Up next
The Cubs head to Cincinnati for a four-game series against the Reds at Great American Ballpark beginning Thursday evening.
