The Cubs (17-12) lead the NL Central, and this week’s series creates an opportunity for the Pirates (11-18) to gain ground.
The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Chicago Cubs to PNC Park following a 3-3 trip in Los Angeles.
Pittsburgh (11-18) is at the bottom of the NL Central standings but could have finished the West Coast stint 5-1.
The Pirates took two out of three from the LA Angels and blew a 3-0 lead in game three to lose 4-3. Up the road to Chavez Ravine, Paul Skenes dominated Friday night in a 3-0 victory powered by pitching.
The Bucs had the lead in all three games of the series, but made critical decisions and had key errors that hindered their chances of winning.
Derek Shelton’s team fell apart in both games from the fifth inning on and dug themselves a hole incapable of climbing out of against the mighty Dodgers.
One key reason for the Pirates’ early offense was Oneil Cruz. Once considered a top shortstop prospect with a projectable bat and 30/30 potential, Cruz is becoming the star many thought he could be.
Cruz hit two leadoff home runs in LA and has hit four leadoff homers in April, the most by any player in MLB history.
https://x.com/northshorenine/status/1916303938669650036?s=46&t=N2Ft50p-TgXY6uljxpiPEQ
He’s done this despite spending half the month in different parts of the order. Cruz didn’t start batting leadoff until April 14 against the Nationals. He’s hit six home runs in 13 games since his first appearance in the leadoff spot.
Cruz owns a .258 average, eight homers, 16 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 12 stolen bases.
Outside of Cruz and Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates’ offense has struggled to find its footing. Bryan Reynolds is hitting under .240 (.235) and off to a slow start with 38 strikeouts compared to nine walks, despite 14 RBIs.
ONEIL CRUZ WITH ANOTHER LEADOFF HOME RUN pic.twitter.com/m70eKQgGla
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 27, 2025
The first-place Cubs (17-12) rank first in baseball in runs (5.9) and stolen bases (44), second in hits (9.1), on-base percentage (.340), and OPS (.784), and third in average (.260).
Andrew Heaney starts opposite Shota Imanaga on Tuesday to begin the three-game series. In a rotation with Paul Skenes, Heaney has statistically been the team’s best starter, earning a 1.72 ERA and 0.77 WHIP.
Heaney has struck out 31 batters through 31.1 innings, compared to six walks, and struck out the first six batters of the game against the Angels on Wednesday.
Carmen Mlodzinski is scheduled to start game two despite allowing 17 earned runs in 22 innings. Mlodzinski hasn’t allowed a run in the first two innings, but the former reliever hasn’t adapted well to an additional workload in his first rotation opportunity.
Skenes — 2.39 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 39 strikeouts in 37.2 innings — pitches Sunday at 12:35 p.m. opposite Colin Rea (0.96 ERA in 18.2 innings). The Thursday matinee marks one of the best pitching matchups of the early season and Skenes’ first chance to go against the team he debuted against.
Taking the series would allow the Pirates to gain ground on Chicago, six games back, and catapult out of the NL Central cellar by the beginning of May and avoid an insurmountable start to the season.