Pittsburgh Pirates (53-50, THIRD NL CENTRAL, SLIGHT FAVORITES, POTENT OFFENSE!), vs Chicago Cubs (57-45, SECOND NL CENTRAL, BOUNCING BACK, ON ROAD!) | PNC Park | Friday, 6:40 PM ET / 5:40 PM CT + YINZERPALOOZA T-SHIRT GIVEAWAY!
The Chicago Cubs (57–45, SECOND IN NL CENTRAL, BOUNCING BACK ON ROAD!) head to PNC Park to face the Pittsburgh Pirates (53–50, THIRD IN NL CENTRAL, THIRD-BEST TEAM OPS IN BASEBALL, SLIGHT FAVORITES -125!) in Game 1 of their three-game division series on Friday night! This is a CRITICAL matchup for us heading into the STRETCH run! We DROPPED 2 of 3 to the Tigers at Wrigley after DOMINATING them 11-2 earlier in the series! We’re SECOND IN THE NL CENTRAL but we’re FACING a Pirates team that’s DANGEROUS with the third-best team OPS (.763) in baseball!
The Pirates are MISSING key players (Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz on IL!) but they’re ABSOLUTELY POTENT! BRYAN REYNOLDS has 14 HRs and .853 OPS! BRANDON LOWE has 21 POWER-HITTING home runs! ESMERLYN VALDEZ has 7 HRs and 17 RBIs in last 10 games! NICK GONZALES has .590 slugging last 10! Now we’re FACING J. JONES (2-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP!) with our MATTHEW BOYD (6-1, 4.15 ERA!) This is a COMPETITIVE matchup and we need to TAKE CONTROL!
Can we bounce back from the Tigers losses and beat the Pirates on the road?
Cubs Season: 57-45, BOUNCING BACK AFTER TIGER LOSSES!
Record: 57-45 (SECOND IN NL CENTRAL, DROPPED 2 OF 3 TO TIGERS, 3-4 VS PIRATES THIS SEASON!)
We’re **57–45 and we’re BOUNCING BACK! We DROPPED 2 of 3 to the Tigers but we CRUSHED them 11-2 in Game 2! We’re SECOND IN THE NL CENTRAL and we’re COMPETITIVE! We have a 3-4 record vs the Pirates this season so this is a HIGHLY COMPETITIVE matchup! PETE CROW-ARMSTRONG leads with .290 average, 21 HRs, 66 runs, 107 hits, 25 SB (ELITE!) SEIYA SUZUKI (.270, 16 HRs, 52 RBIs) is PRODUCTIVE! IAN HAPP had 4 hits and a HOME RUN against the Tigers! MATTHEW BOYD (6-1, 4.15 ERA) is starting and we’re READY to dominate!
Recent Performance:
- 57-45 record (TWELVE games over .500!)
- Second in NL Central (COMPETITIVE!)
- Dropped 2 of 3 to Tigers (STRUGGLING!)
- Crushed Tigers 11-2 (SHOWED POWER!)
- 3-4 vs Pirates this season (COMPETITIVE!)
- Pete Crow-Armstrong .290, 21 HRs, 66 runs, 107 hits, 25 SB (ELITE!)
- Ian Happ 4 hits, 1 HR vs Tigers (HOT!)
We’re READY to DOMINATE the Pirates!
Pittsburgh Pirates: 53-50, THIRD-BEST TEAM OPS, SLIGHT FAVORITES!
Record: 53-50 (THIRD IN NL CENTRAL, THIRD-BEST TEAM OPS .763 IN BASEBALL, MISSING KEY PLAYERS!)
The Pirates are **53–50 and they’re THIRD IN NL CENTRAL! They’re IN THE WILD CARD RACE thanks to their POTENT offense (third-best team OPS .763!) They’re MISSING Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz on the IL but they’re ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS! BRYAN REYNOLDS has 14 HRs and .853 OPS (ELITE!) BRANDON LOWE has 21 home runs (POWER!) ESMERLYN VALDEZ has 7 HRs and 17 RBIs in last 10! NICK GONZALES has .590 slugging last 10! They’re SLIGHT FAVORITES (-125) but this is COMPETITIVE!
Pirates Strengths:
- 53-50 record (THREE games under .500!)
- Third in NL Central (COMPETITIVE!)
- Third-best team OPS .763 (DANGEROUS!)
- 4-3 vs Cubs this season (LEADING!)
- Bryan Reynolds 14 HRs, .853 OPS (ELITE!)
- Brandon Lowe 21 HRs (POWER!)
- Esmerlyn Valdez 7 HRs, 17 RBIs last 10 (HOT!)
- Nick Gonzales .590 slugging last 10 (PRODUCTIVE!)
The Pirates are DANGEROUS despite missing key players!
Key Matchups at PNC Park
Matthew Boyd (6-1, 4.15 ERA) vs J. Jones (2-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP!)!
Jones has the better ERA and WHIP! Slight edge to Jones! But Boyd is 6-1!
Pete Crow-Armstrong (.290, 21 HRs, 107 hits, 25 SB!) vs Pirates!
Crow-Armstrong is ELITE! He should produce!
Pirates Third-Best OPS (.763) vs Cubs Bats!
Pirates have POWER! We need to match them!
Cubs 3-4 vs Pirates This Season!
We’re COMPETITIVE! Close series!
What the Cubs Need at PNC Park
Matthew Boyd Pitches SHARP!
Boyd is 6-1! We need solid pitching against this POTENT offense!
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki Produce!
Both need to HIT! Pirates have power!
Defend the Lead!
If we score, PROTECT it! Can’t let Pirates comeback!
Take Game 1!
Start the series STRONG!
Cubs Fan Prediction: We Win on the Road!
Final Score: Cubs 5, Pirates 3
Matthew Boyd pitches SOLID—7 innings, 3 runs!
Cubs bats produce 5 runs!
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ lead the way!
Pirates score 3 but we HOLD ON!
Two-run win. We’re 58–45. THIRTEEN GAMES OVER .500! Start the series strong!
Why This Game Matters
We’re 57–45 (SECOND NL CENTRAL!) Dropped 2 of 3 to Tigers! Crushed Tigers 11-2! 3-4 vs Pirates this season (competitive!) Pete Crow-Armstrong .290, 21 HRs, 66 runs, 107 hits, 25 SB (elite!) Seiya Suzuki .270, 16 HRs, 52 RBIs Ian Happ 4 hits, 1 HR vs Tigers (hot!) Matthew Boyd 6-1, 4.15 ERA The Pirates are 53–50 (THIRD NL CENTRAL!) 4-3 vs Cubs this season (leading!) Third-best team OPS .763 Bryan Reynolds 14 HRs, .853 OPS (elite!) Brandon Lowe 21 HRs (power!) Esmerlyn Valdez 7 HRs, 17 RBIs last 10 Nick Gonzales .590 slugging last 10 J. Jones 2-1, 4.05 ERA, 1.10 WHIP Missing Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz (IL!)
Win and we’re 58–45. THIRTEEN GAMES OVER .500! Lead the series 1-0!
Can we beat the Pirates? Will our bats produce? Can we take Game 1 on the road?
We’re COMPETITIVE and they’re DANGEROUS! WIN ON THE ROAD!
Go Cubs Go. Bounce back and dominate the Pirates at PNC Park!
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