Let’s Stomp on Some Rookie Pitchers – Cubs vs Pirates Series Preview

Cubs vs Pirates — It’s May 10 and this is just the SECOND NL Central series for the Cubs this season. A product of the balanced scheduled, I suppose. But still feels weird. Either way, those series about to start ramping up. Over the next four weeks, the Cubs are playing the Pirates (7x), the Cardinals (3x), the Brewers (4x), and Reds (7x) a whole lot. So I’d say it’s time to start gobbling up some ground.

That all start tonight/this weekend at PNC against the Pirates, who have two very good young starters going in this series. The headliner, of course, is Paul Skenes, who’s been the top pitching prospect in baseball basically since he was drafted first overall in 2023. The Pirates called him up to make his debut against the Cubs, which I’m hoping winds up as a huge, confidence-shaking mistake.

But I’m not exactly counting on that, because … yeah. Skenes is probably going to be a beast. Over his first seven starts as a 21-year-old at Triple-A, Skenes earned a 0.99 ERA, striking out a staggering 45 batters in 27.1 IP (that’s 42.9% strikeout rate for those doing the math at home). And he sets that up next to a solid 7.6% walk rate. Triple-A hitters are not MLB hitters, but I mean…oof.

And Skenes isn’t even the only devastating Pirates rookie starter to worry about this weekend. Tonight, the Pirates are starting their other top-10 in all of MLB pitching prospect, Jared Jones, who’s already debuted and found success at the big league level.

Through seven starts this season, Jones has struck out 52 batters in 41.0 IP, allowing just 12 earned runs. Homers have been a bit of an issue for him (7 already through 7 games), but he has walked only five batters and has a 2.63 ERA. Worse, as currently scheduled, the Cubs are going to get both Jones and Skenes when these two teams meet again at Wrigley next weekend.

On the bright side, it’s at least possible that the Cubs could Seiya Suzuki back some time this weekend, and Cody Bellinger has already returned and started hitting.

And, hey, let’s not forget that the Cubs have some legit pitchers going, themselves. Tonight, Javier Assad is on the mound, and we all know the tear he’s been on this season. And tomorrow, Justin Steele will make his second start off the injured list.

Sunday’s starter is a TBD for the Cubs (Pirates too, actually), and Brett got into what that means earlier today.

No matter what, this is going to be a tough series (and a tough stretch overall) for the Cubs, especially with the Braves looming on Monday. The season is kicking into high gear this weekend. Let’s see how the Cubs respond.

Cubs vs Pirates – Pitching Probables:

Game 1: Friday, May 10 at 5:40 CT at PNC Park
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, 670 The Score

Cubs: Javier Assad, RHP

Pirates: Jared Jones, RHP

Game 2: Saturday, May 11 at 3:05 CT at PNC Park
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, 670 The Score

Cubs: Justin Steele, LHP

Pirates: Paul Skenes, RHP (MLB Debut)

Game 3: Sunday, May 12 at 12:35 CT at PNC Park
Broadcast Info: Marquee Sports Network, 670 The Score

Cubs: TBD (long convo on this TBD right here)

Pirates: Bailey Falter, LHP

Cubs vs Pirates – Key Injuries:

Chicago Cubs:

Seiya Suzuki, OF (back this series?)

Kyle Hendricks, SP

Drew Smyly, RP

Jordan Wicks, SP

Daniel Palencia, RP

Julian Merryweather, RP

Caleb Kilian, SP

Pittsburgh Pirates:

Jason Delay, C

Ryan Borucki, RP

Marco Gonzales, SP

Johan Oviedo, SP

Endy Rodrigue