Pirates @CUbs
🔷️Pittsburgh@Chicago
📍 Wrigley Field
⏰️ all 3 games @ 1:20
⚾️ Mlodzinski vs Shota kick it off 💥
📺 Marquee Network
The Chicago Cubs return home riding the momentum of a road series win over the Tampa Bay Rays, with the Pittsburgh Pirates next up at Wrigley Field.
Heading into the final two games of the Rays series, the Cubs were batting just .199 as a team. But what looked like a sleeping giant may have finally awakened, as Chicago’s offense exploded over the last two days. The Cubs poured in 15 runs on 24 hits, showing signs that the lineup may be finding its rhythm.
On the mound, Colin Rea and Javier Assad answered the call in their first starts of the season, combining for 10⅔ innings, allowing just 3 hits, 1 earned run, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. It was exactly the kind of response the Cubs needed.
Now the focus shifts to Pittsburgh. The Pirates come into town at 7-5, fresh off a home series loss to San Diego that snapped their five-game winning streak. Needless to say, they’ll be looking to regain some momentum as they arrive at The Pittsburgh Pirates come into this series with a team that has shown some real strengths early in the season.
Their starting rotation has been outstanding, posting a 3.33 ERA, which ranks 8th in Major League Baseball. The bullpen, however, has been a bit less reliable, carrying a 3.91 team ERA to begin the year.
Defensively, Pittsburgh has been a different story.
The Pirates’ defense has looked shaky and fragile at times, with several costly miscues already in the first couple weeks of April. That was on full display in the series finale against San Diego, where they committed three errors behind a great start from Mitch Keller, turning what should have been a strong outing into a loss. Those mistakes directly led to four unearned runs and cost them the game.
At the plate, though, Pittsburgh has brought plenty of firepower. The Pirates currently rank 7th in MLB in OPS and are tied for 6th in home runs, showing this lineup can do damage early in the season.
👀 Who to Watch
🔹Oneil Cruz
Cruz has been electric to start the season, hitting .324 with 4 home runs (leading the National League), 12 RBIs, a .916 OPS, and a .583 slugging percentage.
🔹 Ryan O’Hearn
O’Hearn leads the club with a .367 batting average and 11 RBIs. He’s also added 3 home runs and owns a stellar .459 on-base percentage.
🔹Brandon Lowe
Lowe has brought some serious pop, launching 3 home runs with a solid .821 OPS through his first 11 games.
🔹 Nick Gonzales
Gonzales is off to a hot start as well, hitting .333 while already scoring 6 runs.
⛰️ On the Bump
Braxton Ashcraft has been phenomenal to begin his major league career. Through his first 10 career starts, he owns a 2.18 ERA.
For perspective, Paul Skenes posted a 2.12 ERA through his first 10 starts — putting Ashcraft in some truly elite early company.
🐻 On the Cubs’ Side of Things
Perhaps the most exciting development for Chicago is the return of one of the best right-handed hitters in baseball.
Seiya Suzuki is set to make his 2026 debut this Friday, giving the Cubs lineup a major boost just as the offense appears to be waking up.
At the top of that lineup, Nico Hoerner has been nothing short of sensational.
So far, Hoerner has arguably been the most valuable player in baseball, already sitting at 1.2 WAR, and he’ll look to stay red hot as the Cubs open this series at Wrigley.🔥 Nico Hoerner This Season
.333 / .453 / .548 / 1.001 OPS | 183 wRC+ | 7 XBH | 8 R | 9 RBI | 5 SB |11.3% K% | 15.1% BB%
He’s currently on pace for an eye-popping 13.5 WAR season, a number that shows just how dominant his all-around game has been in the early going.
⚾ On the Bump
The Cubs will send out Shota Imanaga, EdwardCabrera, and Jameson Taillon to counter Pittsburgh’s tough rotation and dangerous lineup.
It’s the first home series of the year vs a division opponent at Wrigley Field, and with all three games set for 1:20 PM first pitches, it should be a perfect weekend for afternoon baseball on the North Side.
With beautiful weather expected and both teams bringing momentum into the series, this has all the makings of a great early-season division rivalry test for Chicago. Gimme the Cubbies to take 2 of 3 and crack that 500 mark.
