Pirates Visit Wrigley Field, Aim to Establish Early Season Momentum

The Chicago Cubs have made their mark on the Pittsburgh Pirates in recent seasons, and as the two teams meet at Wrigley Field, the Pirates are eager to rewrite that narrative. Last year, the Cubs triumphed in 10 of their 13 matchups, outscoring the Pirates 54-26 and showcasing their offensive prowess with 16 home runs compared to Pittsburgh’s five.

As the Pirates (7-5) embark on a three-game series against the Cubs (6-6), they hope to set a new tone for the 2026 season. Under the guidance of manager Don Kelly, the team has seen a resurgence in its offense, which had previously ranked at the bottom of the league. This season, the Pirates have already hit 12 home runs, a significant improvement, thanks in part to offseason acquisitions Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, both of whom have contributed three homers.

Pittsburgh’s offense is showing signs of life, currently tied for ninth in hits per game (8.3) and boasting a .721 OPS, a stark contrast to last year’s struggles. The team also ranks ninth in batting average at .247 and sixth in on-base percentage at .338. This revitalization is complemented by a strong starting pitching staff, which holds the sixth-best starters ERA at 2.87, trailing only the Cubs and Braves in the National League.

However, the Pirates will face a challenge as they head into this series without their top two pitchers, Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, who recently took the mound in a series against the Padres. Carmen Mlodzinski will start Friday’s game against the Cubs’ Shota Imanaga, who has consistently kept the Pirates in check over the past few seasons. Mlodzinski has allowed two runs in each of his first two starts but has struggled to pitch beyond the fifth inning, particularly when facing batters a third time.

Saturday’s matchup features Braxton Ashcraft against Edward Cabrera, who has yet to allow a run in 11.2 innings since joining the Cubs. Ashcraft has emerged as a pleasant surprise for Pittsburgh, sporting a 2.71 ERA over 69.2 innings in his rookie season and successfully pitching six innings in each of his first two starts.

The series culminates on Sunday with an intriguing duel between former Pirate Jameson Taillon and promising rookie Bubba Chandler. Chandler, the No. 11 overall prospect, showcases impressive velocity with a fastball reaching 101 MPH, but his control has been a significant issue, as evidenced by his 10 walks in just 8.2 innings this season.

As the Pirates look to prove that their strong start is more than just a fluke, this series at Wrigley Field represents a crucial early test against a formidable opponent. Each game is set to begin at 2:20 p.m. Eastern, 1:20 p.m. Central, and the stakes are high as both teams vie for supremacy in the National League Central.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.