The Pirates are lining up their best arms for a three-game set with the Cubs at PNC Park, and the rotation order says plenty about how seriously Pittsburgh is treating this weekend.
Jared Jones gets the ball in the opener on July 24, Paul Skenes follows on July 25, and Braxton Ashcraft closes things out on July 26. Chicago is answering with Matthew Boyd in the first game, Shota Imanaga in the second, and former Pirates first-round pick Jameson Taillon in the finale.
It’s the kind of series that can swing the mood around a Wild Card race, and both clubs are bringing real pitching muscle to the table.
Jones has been on a sharp run since the Pirates eased him back into the rotation after he returned fully healthy in late May. Pittsburgh has kept him on a five-inning cap and an 80-pitch limit, and he’s handled it well.
In July, Jones has posted a 1.20 ERA across three starts and 15 innings, striking out 23 while walking just three. He’s also held hitters to a .100 average with a 0.53 WHIP.
That stretch includes one run over four innings with six strikeouts against the Phillies on July 2, six perfect innings and eight strikeouts against the Braves on July 8, and one run allowed over five innings against the Guardians on July 17, when he gave up just three hits and a walk and set a season high with nine strikeouts.
That’s a big step forward from where he was earlier in the year. Jones opened his season with a 5.76 ERA over 25 innings in his first six starts, along with a .270 batting average against and a 1.44 WHIP. The Pirates wanted the version of Jones that flashed as a rookie, and right now he’s giving them exactly that.
Skenes has also started to look more like the pitcher Pittsburgh expects. His season hasn’t been easy, but the last three outings have been a clear turn in the right direction. Over 18.1 innings, he has allowed five earned runs for a 2.45 ERA, with 19 strikeouts and four walks.
The Pirates have won all three of those starts, beating the Braves 12-4 on July 7, the Brewers 14-5 on July 12, and the Guardians 7-1 on July 19. Against Cleveland, Skenes worked seven innings for the first time this season, allowing seven hits and one run while striking out eight and walking two. Before that, his last seven-inning start came on May 13, when he threw eight scoreless innings against the Rockies in a 3-1 Pirates win.
He also hasn’t beaten the Cubs since September of his rookie year, which gives him another target to chase in this series.
Ashcraft brings a different kind of storyline into the finale. He was Pittsburgh’s best starter in the first half of 2026, but July has been rough. Over his last four starts, he’s given up 18 earned runs in 19.2 innings for an 8.24 ERA, with 23 strikeouts, six walks and eight home runs allowed.
The long ball has been the big issue. Ashcraft gave up three homers against the Phillies on June 29, one against the Nationals on July 4, two against the Brewers on July 11, and two more against the Yankees. His last outing was his toughest in the majors, as he allowed a career-high eight runs and seven earned runs in just three innings in an 8-5 loss to New York.
Before this stretch, Ashcraft had allowed only eight home runs across 16 starts and 96.2 innings. After the Yankees start, he was blunt about what needs to change.
“It just goes back to execution," Ashcraft said. "Being able to execute with two strikes, being able to execute with runners in scoring position, that’s how you limit runs.
I’ve just done a pretty bad job of that the last, probably, five starts. Making that a point of emphasis going forward, really working hard on it, selling out for it and ensuring I’m better next start.”
Pittsburgh will be hoping that the right-hander can reset against Chicago and help the Pirates bank a needed win in a divisional series that matters.
In Other News...
Pirates Suddenly Look Serious About A Bullpen Move Fans Have Wanted
The Pirates are reportedly in the mix for one of the markets most electric bullpen arms, with San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller drawing real interest ahead of the trade deadline. Miller has been dominant this season, the kind of late-inning weapon a contender can build around, and Pittsburgh is said to be weighing whether it wants to pay the kind of price such a pitcher commands.
What makes this pursuit notable is the level of talent the Pirates may have to put on the table to get it done, with major league pieces and prospects both in the conversation. No deal has been confirmed, but the fact that Pittsburgh is seriously exploring a move for a high-end closer suggests the front office is at least considering a far bolder bullpen upgrade than fans have been used to seeing. [Read more 🡒]
Endy Rodrguez Finally Took A Step Pirates Fans Needed To See
Endy Rodrguez finally got back into game action with Triple-A Indianapolis, and for the Pirates that alone was a meaningful checkpoint in a return that has been handled carefully from the start. The catcher went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in his rehab debut, then said he felt healthy afterward, which is exactly the kind of update Pittsburgh has been waiting for as it tries to bring him back the right way.
The next step is less about one rehab box score than about how Rodrguez holds up as the workload increases. Pittsburgh wants him fully ready before he rejoins the major league club, and the club will keep easing him along while the catching picture shifts around him, giving him a path back without rushing the process. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Make Another Lineup Tweak With Bats Under Pressure Again
The Pirates shuffled their infield again for Fridays matchup with the Cubs, moving Nick Gonzales to second base, Jacob Gonzalez to shortstop and Jared Triolo over to third. Ryan OHearn was the only holdover from the previous games lineup, a reminder of how much manager Don Kelly has been searching for the right mix as the offense tries to find some traction.
The alignment was built with Chicago left-hander Shota Imanaga in mind, and Pittsburgh is hoping the new look can do more than just patch together a batting order for one night. Jacob Gonzalez, acquired from the White Sox on July 10, is making his fourth start at shortstop while filling in for injured Konnor Griffin, and the Pirates are leaning on a setup they already used in a 7-1 win over Cleveland on July 19. [Read more 🡒]