These teams met last week, and the Chicago Cubs (33-38) brought brooms for the occasion. Now that the setting has shifted to Pennsylvania, will the Pittsburgh Pirates (34-36) get those wins back? This series began on Monday night, setting things up for this pivotal Tuesday tilt. PNC Park will welcome both sides with a 7:05 p.m. EDT first pitch time. The NL Central is tight, so these games could prove to be all the difference come October.
Cubs win! Cubs sweep!
Final: #Cubs 7, Pirates 2. pic.twitter.com/dbZLREGSXR
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 16, 2023
A 7-2 stretch entering this series had the Cubs 4.0 games out of first place. With Marcus Stroman set to start this game, another win should be in Chicago's cards. The Cubs have won his last six starts, and he's held each of those opponents to two or fewer runs. His last start came against the Pirates (6.0 innings pitched, two earned runs), so we've seen this film before. The Stro-Show kept Chicago afloat while the rest of the team scuffled. Now, the National League's leader in ERA, WHIP, and H/9 can lead a proper charge toward the NL Central crown.
Belli's back! ??
Cubs doubles: 96
Trees planted by @NuveenInv: 2,208 pic.twitter.com/oJrRi77Qpo— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 16, 2023
A team that's ranked 13th in runs per game is there largely due to how well they mashed the Pirates pitching last week. In that three-game set, the Cubs scored 28 runs, an average of over nine per game. Getting on base isn't an issue, with Chicago's walk rate the third-highest in baseball. Thanks to a 25th-ranked strikeout rate, driving them in hasn't been quite as easy. When the hits are coming, a parade of runs follows. If the Cubs can consistently get those hits is the question.