The Cubs have given themselves a chance to keep the good stretch rolling, and Sunday’s series finale against the Pirates comes with a familiar setup: Matthew Boyd on the mound, the bats still warm, and a chance to finish off a sweep at Wrigley Field.
Chicago has piled up 16 runs over its last two games after that rough trip to Milwaukee, while holding Pittsburgh to just five runs in the same span. With the Atlanta Braves coming next, the Cubs will be looking to carry this momentum right through the weekend.
Boyd gets the ball after one of his better starts of the season. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, he worked 7.0 innings, allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out seven. That strikeout total was his highest since July 7 against the Baltimore Orioles, and his ERA now sits at 4.03 across 19 outings.
He also had success the last time he saw Pittsburgh. Boyd went 7.0 innings in that meeting as well, giving up seven hits and just one run.
Chicago is sticking with the same general look in the lineup, with one change behind the plate. Miguel Amaya is back in for Carson Kelly and will play for the first time since September 8.
The Cubs’ lineup: Pete Crow-Armstrong in center, Seiya Suzuki in right, Michael Busch at first, Alex Bregman at third, Ian Happ as the DH, Nico Hoerner at short, Michael Conforto also listed as DH, Pedro Ramírez at second, and Miguel Amaya catching.
Pittsburgh will counter with Konnor Griffin at short, Oneil Cruz in center, Bryan Reynolds as DH, Rafael Flores, Jr. in the order, Nick Gonzales at second, Ryan O'Hearn as DH, Jake Mangum in left, Jared Triolo at third, and Henry Davis behind the plate.
The Cubs will also have to deal with Bubba Chandler, one of the young arms in the Pirates’ rotation. The 23-year-old leans on a 98.4 mph heater and mixes in a low-90s slider and change-up, a combination that can create swings and misses.
He’s not built around piling up strikeouts, though. The bigger issue is getting hitters to put the ball in play against tough stuff, and he usually doesn’t stay out there much longer than 5.0 innings.
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Pirates Lose A Productive Young Bat At The Worst Time
Esmerlyn Valdez had been one of the more productive young bats in the Pirates system, so his move to the 10-day injured list lands at an awkward time for a club trying to keep options open in the outfield. The Pirates made the roster move after Valdez strained his left hamstring while running to first base, and while the injury sent him to the shelf, there is still no clear sense yet of how long he might be out.
Ronny Simon was summoned from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the open spot on the active roster, giving Pittsburgh another utility option while it waits for more information on Valdez. For now, the concern is less about the replacement and more about what the Pirates lost, since any extended absence from a young hitter with momentum can change the look of the roster quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Need Jake Mangum Again After Another Costly Outfield Loss
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Manager Don Kelly said Jake Mangum is expected to see more time in the outfield, a familiar sort of assignment for a player who has already stepped in for injured teammates this season. For a club trying to keep its lineup steady through another setback, Mangums ability to plug holes again could end up mattering as much as any single bat in the short term. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Top Prospects Just Moved One Step From A Title
The Pirates High-A affiliate is still playing meaningful baseball, and several of the organizations top prospects have helped keep Greensboro in the hunt. The Grasshoppers advanced to the South Atlantic League Championship Series after taking their Division Series over Frederick, with Edward Florentino, Tony Blanco Jr., Wyatt Sanford, Reinold Navarro and Levi Sterling all contributing during the playoff run.
Greensboro now gets a chance to go one step farther, with Winston-Salem waiting in the Championship Series set to begin Sept. 13. For a Pirates farm system that has been trying to stockpile both talent and winning habits, this is the kind of stage that gives young players a little extra pressure and a little more visibility, especially with so many familiar names still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]