Chicago Cubs @ Pittsburgh Pirates – Series Preview (April 29-May 1): Overview, Game and Broadcast Info, Starting Pitchers, W2W4
The Cubs (17-12) lost two of three to the Phillies over the weekend to finish off what was an overall successful 5-3 homestand. Chicago has played 29 games this season, every single one of which has come against a team with at least a .500 record as of Tuesday. The fact that they have gotten off to such an impressive start facing a brutal schedule is a great sign for the rest of 2025.
The North Siders finally face a division opponent, one with a losing record, when they begin a two-city road trip in Pittsburgh on Tuesday. The Pirates (11-18) find themselves in a familiar spot through the first month of the season, as they occupy last place in the National League Central division.
Their offense has not been good with a .645 OPS that ranks 27th in baseball, and they have just 23 total home runs. Young shortstop Oneil Cruz has been a bright spot with eight homers and a .914 OPS. The ageless Andrew McCutchen is off to a good start with a 128 wRC+ and three homers.
The headliner of the Pirates’ pitching staff is reigning Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, who has been very good again this season. Their overall 3.98 ERA is right in the middle of the pack, but the bullpen has been a surprising area of strength despite closer David Bednar being demoted to Triple-A after a couple of rough outings.
This is a dangerous series for the Cubs, who have to be on guard for a letdown against a lesser opponent. They have moved into a good position to take advantage of what appears to be a very weak division, but it will mean nothing if they don’t play well. With most of their season-opening gauntlet out of the way, it’s time to see if the Cubs can take control of the Central and turn this into a very special year.
Game Time and Broadcast Info
- Tuesday, April 29 at 5:40pm CT on Marquee.
- Wednesday, April 30 at 5:40pm CT on Marquee.
- Thursday, May 1 at 11:35am CT on Marquee.
Starting Pitchers
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | FIP | K/BB |
| 4/29 | Shōta Imanaga | 31 | L | 3.18 | 2-1 | 5.20 | 2.25 |
| Andrew Heaney | 33 | L | 1.72 | 2-1 | 2.25 | 5.17 | |
| 4/30 | Matthew Boyd | 34 | L | 2.54 | 2-2 | 4.00 | 2.40 |
| Carmen Mlodzinski | 28 | R | 6.95 | 1–3 | 3.82 | 2.00 | |
| 5/1 | Colin Rea | 34 | R | 0.96 | 1-0 | 1.50 | 6.33 |
| Paul Skenes | 22 | R | 2.39 | 3–2 | 1.72 | 9.75 |
What to Watch For
- Kyle Tucker has hit his first mini-slump of the season with just one hit in his last four games.
- Seiya Suzuki showed no ill effects from his sore wrist with four hits against the Phillies.
- Rea has been outstanding since entering the rotation, allowing just two runs in 13.1 innings.
- The Cubs were 7-6 against the Pirates in 2024.
