The Cubs and Pirates continue their four-game weekend series on Friday night in Pittsburgh. Both teams are far removed from the playoff picture and seem locked in their 3rd and last place positions respectively, both well below .500. The pitching matchup for Friday night features the Cubs' Javier Assad (1-2, 3.86) taking on the Pirates' Bryse Wilson (3-9, 6.07). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm EST.
Perhaps mercifully, the Cubs season is winding to a close as they look for a fresh start in 2023. The Cubs will have some work to do this offseason if they want to return to the glory years that culminated in a World Series title in 2016. Chicago might begin this offseason by revamping a pitching staff that has the 21st best ERA in baseball, a slight improvement from 2021. On Thursday night, in the series opener with the Pirates, the Cubs pulled out a 3-2 win thanks to Hayden Wesneski's 6.1 innings of five-hit ball with six strikeouts.
Cubs win the series! pic.twitter.com/n9U3C60U0r
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 22, 2022
The Cubs pitching has been a bit better of late, with an ERA of 2.87 in it last three games heading into Thursday's series opener with the Pirates. The team has had nine quality starts in their last 20 games, a stretch that has seen the Cubbies go a respectable 9-11 in that span. On Friday night, Chicago will turn to 25 year-old Javier Assad against the Pirates lineup. Assad is 1-2 in his last five starts with an ERA of 4.66. He has allowed 18 hits in his last 19.1 innings pitched. He has yet to face the Pirates this season.