When the Cubs last played the Pirates, taking two of three in PNC Park in April, Derek Shelton was their manager.
About a week after that series, Shelton was fired and replaced by bench coach Don Kelly. So that’s something new since these teams last met.
For more on the Pirates, here’s Austin Bechtold, a writer for our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing their best baseball of the season approaching the official start of summer.
Winners of five of their last six games, the Pirates recorded their first three-game winning streak by sweeping the cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies last weekend at PNC Park. Pittsburgh followed it up by taking two of three from the Miami Marlins in a series that ended Wednesday.
Not only did the win signify a winning record under new manager Don Kelly (16-15), but a historic day for Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen homered off Cal Quantrill in the bottom of the fifth inning for his 241st home run as a Pirate, surpassing Roberto Clemente for third all-time in franchise history.
It was McCutchen’s sixth long ball of the season and 325th of his 17-year career.
The Pirates enter Wrigley Field with a different feeling around the ball club. Derek Shelton was fired in early May after a 12-26 start and two consecutive sweeps.
GM Ben Cherington promoted Kelly from bench coach and rejuvenated a struggling group.
Yes, the Pirates are still 28-41. A 12-19 March/April and 10-18 May tanked their chances of playing meaningful baseball in August, let alone September. Their offense ranks tied for 29th in baseball in runs (3.2) and tied for 24th in hits (7.6). The Bucs tied a modern-era record by scoring four runs or fewer in 26 consecutive contests. They have scored five or more runs in six of their last 15 games. Not earth shattering, to say the least, but progress.
The Pirates will send Andrew Heaney, Paul Skenes. Mike Burrows, and Mitch Keller to the mound for the four-game series beginning on Thursday evening. Skenes vs. star Cubs prospect Cade Horton is the marquee matchup of the weekend. Despite a 1.88 ERA and 1.01 WHIP, Paul Skenes is 4-6.
No starting pitcher has ever won the Cy Young with a losing record. Skenes is on pace to make history, which he has done plenty in the past 13 months in Pittsburgh. In his first start at Wrigley Field last season and second-ever appearance, Skenes pitched six no-hit innings and struck out 11 Cubbies.
A series split against the first-place Cubs would be ideal for the Pirates. They’ve struggled away from PNC Park and are 9-22 on the road this season. The Cubs took two-out-of-three from April 29-May 1 and the teams won’t meet again until Aug. 15-17 at Wrigley Field.
Fun facts
The Cubs have played 23 series this year. This will be just their second at home against a National League Central Division rival. The first was May 30-June 1 vs. the Reds. They will host the Brewers for the first time Tuesday-Thursday of next week. They will not welcome the Cardinals until July 4-6.
The Cubs have played more games against the Pirates, 2,611, than against any other opponent. They have played 2,513 vs. the Cardinals and 2,422 vs. the Reds.
The Cubs have their most wins against any team, 1,278, and most losses, 1,315, against the Pirates. They have recorded 82 more wins than losses at home, while suffering 119 more losses at Pittsburgh.
Since the start of 2015, the Cubs are 52-29 at home vs. the Pirates, but last season they were just 4-5.
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
Thursday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (6-3, 3.54 ERA, 0.969 WHIP, 4.82 FIP) vs. Andrew Heaney, LHP (3-4, 3.24 ERA, 1.147 WHIP, 4.37 FIP)
Friday: Cade Horton, RHP (3-1, 4.11 ERA, 1.304 WHIP, 4.01 FIP) vs. Paul Skenes, RHP (7-2, 1.88 ERA, 0.835 WHIP, 2.49 FIP)
Saturday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (5-3, 2.89 ERA, 1.232 WHIP, 3.51 FIP) vs. Mike Burrows, RHP (1-1, 5.00 ERA, 1.389 WHIP, 5.40 FIP)
Sunday: Colin Rea, RHP (4-2, 3.92 ERA, 1.371 WHIP, 4.33 FIP) vs. Mitch Keller, RHP (1-9, 4.15 ERA, 1.275 WHIP, 3.32 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Thursday: 7:05 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Friday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network, MLB Network (outside Cubs and Pirates market territories)
Saturday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
The Pirates enter this series 9-22 in road games this year. The last time the Cubs hosted a team that bad in road games, they swept them (the Rockies). The Pirates are better than the Rockies, so I’ll say the Cubs will take three of four.
Up next
The Cubs have Monday off, then host the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series beginning Tuesday evening.
Poll
How many games will the Cubs win against the Pirates?