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Two teams with genuine postseason ambitions meet at PNC Park, each carrying enough momentum — and enough recent stumble — to make this feel genuinely consequential. The Cubs enter at 58-45, sitting six games back in the division but holding a firm grip on the NL wild card picture. Pittsburgh, at 53-51, is right on the edge of that same conversation, and playing at home against a divisional rival is exactly the kind of opportunity the Pirates need to press their case.

Chicago’s offense has the firepower to punish any lapse. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been one of the more complete players in the National League, posting 22 home runs, 67 runs, 109 hits, and 25 stolen bases. Seiya Suzuki adds another dimension with 17 home runs and 54 RBI. For Pittsburgh, Nick Gonzales is hitting .312 with 115 hits, and Ryan O’Hearn has been quietly productive all season — 16 home runs, 64 RBI, hitting .277. Brandon Lowe brings the power, with 21 home runs and 65 RBI.

Both clubs have gone 6-4 over their last ten games, which tells you something: neither is running away from anyone, and neither is fading. That parity makes this matchup worth watching closely.

Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates Game Information

Game Date: July 25, 2026
Game Time: 06:40 PM ET
TV Channel: SportsNet Pittsburgh and Marquee Sports Network
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

Pittsburgh’s third-best team OPS in baseball (.763) is not a number that gets enough attention, but it explains why the Pirates remain relevant despite sitting 11.5 games back in the division. Their path runs through the wild card, and the margin is thin. The Cubs, six games back in the division and leading the top wild card spot, cannot afford to let a divisional opponent gain ground. Chicago has gone 3-4 against Pittsburgh in 2026, meaning the Pirates have already demonstrated they can match up with this Cubs roster. Every game in this matchup carries direct standings weight.

Pittsburgh Pirates Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 53-51
Home Record: 27-25
Away Record: 26-26
Division Record: 17-13
Streak: 2 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .510

Chicago Cubs Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 58-45
Home Record: 30-22
Away Record: 28-23
Division Record: 14-13
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .563

Stat Leaders

Pittsburgh Pirates (53-51, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Nick Gonzales, 0.312
RBI Leader: Brandon Lowe, 65 RBI
Home Run Leader: Brandon Lowe, 21 HR
Runs Leader: Bryan Reynolds, 71 Runs
Hits Leader: Nick Gonzales, 115 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Oneil Cruz, 21 SB
ERA Leader: Evan Sisk, 2.23 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Paul Skenes, 138 K
Wins Leader: Braxton Ashcraft, 9 W
Saves Leader: Gregory Soto, 13 SV

Chicago Cubs (58-45, #2 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Justin Dean, 0.333
RBI Leader: Dansby Swanson, 59 RBI
Home Run Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 22 HR
Runs Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 67 Runs
Hits Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 109 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Pete Crow-Armstrong, 25 SB
ERA Leader: Ben Brown, 1.85 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Shota Imanaga, 109 K
Wins Leader: Colin Rea, 7 W
Saves Leader: Jacob Webb, 5 SV

What to Watch For

Pittsburgh’s injury list has thinned the roster in meaningful ways — Oneil Cruz (hand), Konnor Griffin (finger), Spencer Horwitz (hamstring), and Endy Rodríguez (lower body) are all sidelined — but that has created space for others to step forward. Jake Mangum has taken full advantage, hitting .305 with 78 hits, 19 stolen bases, and 21 RBI. Esmerlyn Valdez has contributed 13 home runs and 34 RBI. These are players building their cases in real time.

On the mound, Pittsburgh’s rotation carries genuine intrigue. Paul Skenes leads the staff with 138 strikeouts. Braxton Ashcraft has nine wins. Carmen Mlodzinski sits at a 3.34 ERA with 69 strikeouts. The Cubs counter with Matthew Boyd, who carries a 3.81 ERA and six wins, while Javier Assad has also been serviceable at 4.04.

For Chicago, Ian Happ has 18 home runs and 64 runs scored, and Alex Bregman adds 10 home runs and 44 RBI. The Cubs are also navigating their own injury situation — Ben Brown (neck) and Edward Cabrera (hamstring) are both on the injured list — which puts added pressure on the healthy arms to deliver in a road environment where Pittsburgh’s offense has proven it can do damage.

Pittsburgh Pirates Injury Report

Rafael Flores Jr. – Head (D7) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed C Rafael Flores on the 7-day injured list.
Evan Sisk – Elbow (D15) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed LHP Evan Sisk on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow inflammation.
Spencer Horwitz – Hamstring (D10) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed INF Spencer Horwitz on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
Konnor Griffin – Finger (D60) – The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred INF Konnor Griffin from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a left-hand ring finger sagittal band injury.
Chris Devenski – Illness (D60) – The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred RHP Chris Devenski to the 60-day injured list due to illness.
Oneil Cruz – Hand (D60) – The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred OF Oneil Cruz to the 60-day injured list due to left hand injury.
Endy Rodríguez – Lower Body (D10) – The Pittsburgh Pirates placed C Endy Rodríguez on the 10-day injured list with left glute strain.

Chicago Cubs Injury Report

Cade Horton – Forearm (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred RHP Cade Horton to the 60-day injured list due right forearm discomfort.
Hunter Harvey – Tricep (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred RHP Hunter Harvey to the 60-day injured list with right triceps inflammation.
Riley Martin – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transferred LHP Riley Martin from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list due to left elbow flexor strain.
Daniel Palencia – Elbow (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation.
Edward Cabrera – Hamstring (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.
Matt Shaw – Hand (D10) – The Chicago Cubs placed OF Matt Shaw on the 10-day injured list due to a sprained left hand.
Tyler Austin – Knee (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed INF Tyler Austin on the 60-day injured list due to a right knee injury.
Justin Steele – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed LHP Justin Steele on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow injury.
Ethan Roberts – Forearm (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ethan Roberts on the 15-day injured list due to right forearm inflammation.
Phil Maton – Knee (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Phil Maton on the 15-day injured list.
Porter Hodge – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs transaferred RHP Porter Hodge to the 60-day injured list with a right elbow strain.
Hoby Milner – Appendicitis (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed LHP Hoby Milner on the 15-day injured list due to Appendicitis.
Ben Brown – Neck (D15) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list with a neck strain.
Shelby Miller – Elbow (D60) – The Chicago Cubs placed RHP Shelby Miller on the 60-day injured list due to a right elbow UCL injury.

Pittsburgh Pirates Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 25, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 26, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 27, 2026 vs Arizona Diamondbacks
July 28, 2026 vs Arizona Diamondbacks
July 29, 2026 vs Arizona Diamondbacks
July 30, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
July 31, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 01, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 02, 2026 at Cincinnati Reds
August 03, 2026 at Milwaukee Brewers

Chicago Cubs Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 25, 2026 at Pittsburgh Pirates
July 26, 2026 at Pittsburgh Pirates
July 27, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 28, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 29, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 30, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 31, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 01, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 02, 2026 vs New York Yankees
August 03, 2026 vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.