On The Horizon: Cubs vs. Pirates series preview

Here are two facts about the Pirates that should tell you about as much as you need to know about their season.

• Former Cub Derek Holland is one of their rotation starters — and he was ejected from a game while sitting in the stands.
• Phillip Evans, who was in spring training with the Cubs in 2019 but spent the entire year at Triple-A Iowa without even a September callup despite good numbers there (.283/.371/.470, 17 home runs), is the Pirates’ starting third baseman.

The Pirates are 2-4, but rank 23rd in runs scored and 18th in fewest runs allowed. This seems like just the sort of team the Cubs can do well against.

Fun fact

Since the Cubs returned to contention in 2015, they are 56-38 against the Pirates (not including the 2015 Wild Card game). At Wrigley Field, they’re 30-16.

Pitching matchups

Friday: Yu Darvish, RHP (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 1.33 FIP) vs. Trevor Williams, RHP (0-1, 7.36 ERA, 1.636 WHIP, 6.58 FIP)

Saturday: Tyler Chatwood, RHP (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.833 WHIP, 1.37 FIP) vs. Mitch Keller, RHP (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 4.03 FIP)

Sunday: Jon Lester, LHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.200 WHIP, 3.83 FIP) vs. TBD

The Sunday matchup is correct, as of the posting time of this series preview the Pirates have not named a Sunday starter.

Times & TV channels

Friday: 7:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Saturday: 7:15 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Sunday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network

Prediction

I don’t like to predict sweeps, because sweeps are hard to do no matter what teams are involved. But if the Cubs don’t win at least two of three here, I’ll be surprised.

Up next

The Cubs face the Royals in a four-game series beginning Monday evening. The first two games will be at Wrigley Field, the last two in Kansas City.