ICYMI, here’s today’s roster move.
Friday notes…
- BACK-TO-BACK: The Cubs have lost back-to-back games only twice in their last 40 played, since a third straight loss, at home to the Athletics, on June 3. They fell twice at home to the Cardinals on July 3-4, then at Baltimore on July 9 and at Cincinnati the next day. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- WINNING ON THE ROAD: The Cubs are 27-23 on the road. They finished 42-39 last year, their first full season with a winning record since 2018, when they were 44-37. They were 15-12 in the 60-game 2020 season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- DIVISION RIVALS: The Cubs are 13-13 vs. their Central Division opponents. The Pirates are 17-12 within the division; the Brewers, 19-10; and the Cardinals, 15-13. The Reds are 6-22. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
- TODAY IN CUBS HISTORY: The Cubs overcame a 4-1 deficit in Milwaukee with a five-run seventh and defeated the Brewers 6-5, increasing their NL Central lead to 7.5 games. It happened 10 years ago today, Sunday, July 24, 2016.
Cubs lineup:
The Pirates lineup was not available at posting time. Please check BCB social media for the Pirates lineup.
Matthew Boyd, LHP vs. Jared Jones, RHP
Matthew Boyd since returning from his knee injury: five starts, 2.57 ERA, 1.143 WHIP. He’s been really good and has thrown 90+ pitches in each of his last three starts, so shouldn’t be pitch limited tonight.
He has not faced the Pirates this year.
Last year he had a 4.50 ERA in three starts covering 14 innings, which was two good outings and one pretty bad one. The bad one was in September when he was running out of gas. He should be better tonight.
Jared Jones was being talked about as a 1-2 along with Paul Skenes in the Pirates rotation two years ago, then he missed part of 2024 and all of 2025 with “internal brace” surgery, something different from Tommy John surgery. He’s made nine starts this year and started off kind of shaky, but over the last three: 1.20 ERA, 0.533 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and only three walks in 15 innings.
He appears to be a bit pitch-limited as he has maxed out at 81 this year and 75 over those last three starts. So, get to him early, if possible.
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Here is the weather forecast for the area around PNC Park.
Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network.
Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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The 2026 game discussion procedure has been changed, so please take note.
You’ll find the game preview, like this one, posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).
At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game.
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