Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Tuesday 5/25, 5:35 CT
Share this story
Tuesday notes:
SCORING RUNS AND NOT ALLOWING THEM: The Cubs enter tonight with a plus-16 run differential this season (213-197), tied for the fourth-best differential in the N.L. with the Marlins and behind the Padres (+73), Dodgers (+72) and Giants (+47).
THAT HOME/ROAD SPLIT: While the Cubs have won 17 of their last 20 games at Wrigley Field against the Pirates since September 26, 2018, they are just 6-13 in 19 games at PNC Park in that span (and 1-0 at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pa.)
WHAT A RELIEF: The Cubs bullpen has not allowed an earned run in 13 of the last 14 games since May 8, posting a 0.87 ERA (five earned runs in 51⅔ IP), walking 21, striking out 66, holding the opponent to a .145 average (26-for-179) and a .407 OPS.
Cubs 4, Pirates 3: Joc pop
Share this story
Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Tuesday’s Cubs/Pirates game did not start out well for our favorite team, with Jake Arrieta getting touched up for three runs (two earned) over the first two innings.
But Jake settled down, the Cubs bullpen did its usual outstanding job, Joc Pederson homered twice and the Cubs had their second straight one-run win, 4-3 over the Pirates.
Your browser does not support HTML5 video.
Arrieta, who had been shaky over the first two innings, started mowing down Pirates and then the Cubs put together a three-run fifth. Jake batted for himself and singled with one out.
On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Pirates series preview
Share this story
Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
These days in baseball, we get a lot of weird scheduling as we have seen between the Cubs and Pirates so far in 2021.
The teams have met nine times already, six at Wrigley Field, three at PNC Park.
A few random notes on those nine games:
The Cubs won four of the six in Chicago, but lost two of three in Pittsburgh.
Overall, the Cubs have a negative run differential (-6) in the nine games despite winning five of the nine.
We knew that fans being at sporting events was important to the experience for those of us watching at home, but I don’t think I realized just how important until we experienced last year, and now get to contrast it with this year as fans come back. It’s just such a better experience hearing and seeing the fans there in St. Louis – yes, even St. Louis – and then feeling the energy reflected from the players.
• Speaking of that kind of return to normalcy on the field, the Cubs are benefiting from it in another way, according to David Ross (Sun-Times): “Confidence is very important in our game and remembering how good of a baseball player you are,” Ross said. “I think KB has said it. . . . I can’t speak for players, but last year I felt there was such an anxiety to get going. I really feel like this season just continues to go and we’re in May and we’re like, ‘Wow, we still have a long way to go.’ This feels a little more normal to those guys, and the