On Monday, two rivals from the National League Central will clash at Wrigley Field for the first of three games, as the Pittsburgh Pirates (63-72, 5th in NL Central) take on the Chicago Cubs (70-66, 2nd in NL Central). The Pirates recently broke a five-game losing streak with a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, though they remain at the bottom of their division and far from playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Cubs are riding a wave of success, having defeated the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Saturday, marking their fifth consecutive win and eighth win in nine games. Chicago sits ten games back of the Milwaukee Brewers but is just four games shy of the third and final NL wildcard spot. Both teams are facing challenges, as Pittsburgh will be missing eight pitchers and key players like Joey Bart, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Endy Rodriguez, while Chicago will be without ten pitchers.
This article was prepared before the teams faced off on Sunday.
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Pittsburgh’s Hitting and Pitching Struggles
The Pirates have had a tough season offensively, ranking 22nd in runs scored (571), 23rd in batting average (.237), and 25th in slugging percentage (.375). Bryan Reynolds leads the team with 21 home runs and 74 RBIs, while Oneil Cruz follows with 18 home runs. Pittsburgh boasts a total of 350 extra-base hits this season, including 200 doubles and 134 home runs.
On the mound, Pittsburgh ranks sixth in Quality Starts (58), with an ERA of 4.13 and a WHIP of 1.31. Mitch Keller has been the standout pitcher with 11 wins and a 3.84 ERA. On Monday, Jared Jones will take the mound, holding a record of 5-7 and an ERA of 3.88, along with 102 strikeouts this season.
Chicago’s Recent Offensive and Defensive Improvements
The Chicago Cubs are starting to find their rhythm, sitting 12th in on-base percentage (.315) and 14th in runs scored (612). Ian Happ leads the team with 23 home runs and 76 RBIs, while Seiya Suzuki contributes with 19 home runs. The Cubs have recorded 391 extra-base hits this season, including 222 doubles and 145 home runs.
From a pitching perspective, Chicago ranks 9th in ERA (3.81) and has achieved 52 Quality Starts. Shota Imanaga leads the team with 11 wins and a 3.14 ERA, along with 148 strikeouts. Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs on Monday, holding a 9-8 record and a 3.85 ERA this season.
Best Bets for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Pittsburgh has faced significant challenges this season, with a dismal 1-4 record in their last five games and only 2 wins in their last 12 road outings. On the other hand, Chicago is on a roll, winning their last five games and eight of the last nine against National League opponents. Earlier this week, Chicago swept Pittsburgh in a three-game series, and they have won 6 of the 10 matchups this season. Jared Jones, making just his second start since July due to injury, struggled in his return against these same Cubs, allowing five runs in four innings. In his last outing, Jameson Taillon was less effective, giving up four runs in 6.2 innings, yet Chicago still triumphed over Pittsburgh with a score of 18-8.
