Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Wednesday 5/26, 5:35 CT

Today’s roster moves: Here

There is a pretty good chance this game will be delayed, as storms approach the Pittsburgh area. Here is the local radar for your reference.

Site note: The first pitch thread and overflow thread will remain at their scheduled times (5:30 CT and 7:05 CT) regardless of any game delays.

Tuesday notes...

• ROAD WARRIORS: With series wins in Detroit (May 14-16) and then St. Louis to start this trip, the Cubs have won two straight road series after going winless in their first five series to begin the 2021 season. The team looks to win three straight road series for the first time since April 15-May 1, 2019 at Miami (3-0), Arizona (2-1) and Seattle (2-0).
• THE CLOSE ONES: The Cubs are 14-7 this month with all seven losses coming by a single run. 14 of the team’s 21 games in May have been decided by one run and 15 have been within two runs.
• THE NEW GUYS: Patrick Wisdom last night became the 40th player the Cubs have used this season. This is the earliest date in franchise history that the Cubs have reached 40 different players used, and only the third time prior to June 15 (the old trade deadline) that the team has utilized this many players. The other such years: In 2000, the Cubs reached 40 players used on June 4 and in 2012 they reached the mark on June 14. The team finished those seasons with 51 and 53 players utilized, respectively.
• WHAT A RELIEF: The Cubs bullpen has not allowed an earned run in its last nine games, covering 29⅔ innings. That’s just one-third of an inning short of the longest stretch a Cubs bullpen has gone without allowing an earned run — 30 innings from August 13-17, 1982. Per Cubs historian Ed Hartig, the end of that streak was in a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers in 21 innings — the Cubs bullpen tossed 15 scoreless frames in that game before allowing a run in the 21st inning.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Regarding Anthony Rizzo (and Nico Hoerner):

Pirates lineup:

Trevor Williams, RHP vs. Wil Crowe, RHP

USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY NETWORK

This is a pitching rematch of the game May 8 at Wrigley Field. Trevor Williams made it through only four innings, allowing two runs and throwing 83 pitches. Wil Crowe also allowed two runs, though in six innings. The Cubs won the game 3-2.

Since then Crowe has made two starts, allowing seven runs in 10 innings with 12 strikeouts. Williams has also made two starts, allowing five runs in 6⅔ innings with seven strikeouts. Neither of those is very good.

Also, Williams was pretty bad in his previous PNC Park start this year, April 11. Hoping he was just too amped up to “prove” something in his old home park, but in general he has not been good on the road this year (four starts, 11.08 ERA). Hopefully, today is better.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

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The 2021 Game Thread procedure will be a bit different than previous years. It will be similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.