Pittsburgh hosts Chicago Cubs in Saturday night matchup
The Chicago Cubs are set to continue their road trip against National League Central rivals, facing the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night at PNC Park. This game follows a 3-2 victory for the Cubs on Friday night, marking the start of a seven-game road stretch for Chicago.
The Cubs‘ win on Friday was their first in 13 games against an opponent with a winning record. Prior to this, they had a 7-5 record in 12 games against teams at .500 or below. The team’s record against winning clubs stands at 25-21, while they are 33-24 against all other teams. The Cubs‘ record against their Central Division rivals is now 14-13, while the Pirates hold a 17-13 divisional record.
Pitching Matchup
Left-hander Shōta Imanaga is scheduled to start for the Cubs. Imanaga has a 3.91 ERA and a 1.113 WHIP over 20 starts and 115 innings this season. He recently delivered seven shutout innings against the Twins. His performance against the Pirates has been notable, with a 0.28 ERA over five starts, 32 innings, seven walks, and 32 strikeouts, allowing only one earned run. On April 10, he threw six no-hit innings against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
For the Pirates, right-hander Paul Skenes is slated to take the mound. Skenes, the reigning NL Cy Young winner, enters the game with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.040 WHIP, having struck out 138 batters in 115.1 innings over 21 starts. While he has a career 2.77 ERA against the Cubs with 53 strikeouts in 39 innings, his recent form shows a 4.55 ERA and 1.347 WHIP over his last 12 starts, covering 65.1 innings. During these 12 starts, he has recorded 82 strikeouts. His four-seamer velocity is also slightly down this year at 96.9, compared to 98.2 last year.
In a May 28 game at PNC Park, the Cubs scored three runs (one earned) off Skenes in 5.1 innings, elevating his pitch count to 103.
Game Details and Historical Context
The game is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 6:30 PM ET. It will be broadcast on Marquee Sports Network and SportsNet Pittsburgh. Temperatures are expected to be 80F at first pitch, with minimal winds blowing out to center field, which could slightly favor batters.
The Cubs‘ victory on Friday night saw Dansby Swanson single home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and Seiya Suzuki contributed with a bases-loaded walk. Pete Crow-Armstrong tied the game in the sixth with a solo home run. Matthew Boyd had a strong outing for Chicago, allowing one run on seven hits over seven innings in a no-decision. For the Pirates, Jared Jones allowed one run on two hits over six innings, and Henry Davis gave Pittsburgh a 1-0 lead in the fifth with an infield single. Nick Gonzales drove in a run for the Pirates in the 12th, closing the deficit to 3-2.
A win for the Cubs on Saturday would mark their 600th victory in Pittsburgh since the rivalry with the Pirates began in 1887. The Cubs have won more games in Pittsburgh than in any other city, with Philadelphia being second at 579 wins. However, they have also lost more games in Pittsburgh, 714, than anywhere else, with St. Louis being second at 677 losses. Historically, the Cubs have a strong road record against the Pirates, with 12 wins in their last 15 road games against them.
On July 25, 1936, 90 years ago, the Cubs defeated the Phillies 17-4 in Philadelphia, with Augie Galan hitting a home run and driving in four runs. The Cubs led the National League by three games at that time.
Betting odds for the game show the Cubs as +117 moneyline underdogs, while the Pirates are favored at -122. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs.
The Pirates‘ bullpen has the 10th-highest ERA in MLB at 4.40, slightly higher than the Cubs‘ bullpen ERA of 4.04. Skenes‘ last five starts have seen a 5.27 ERA, with the over cashing in each of those games.
The Cubs will be looking to clinch the three-game series against the Pirates at PNC Park.
Source: bleedcubbieblue.com
