The Chicago Cubs head to PNC Park on Friday, July 24, for a 6:40 PM ET showdown with the Pittsburgh Pirates in what shapes up as a meaningful NL Central divisional contest. Matthew Boyd gets the ball for Chicago against Pittsburgh's Jared Jones in a pitching matchup that gives Cubs fans plenty to watch. Division games in late July carry real weight — every series against a conference rival either tightens your grip on the standings or loosens it, and the Cubs cannot afford to take a trip to Pittsburgh lightly.
Cubs at Pirates: Pitching Matchup — Boyd vs. Jones
Matthew Boyd draws the start for the Cubs, and his assignment is straightforward: keep the Pittsburgh lineup honest and give Chicago's offense a chance to do damage. Boyd is a veteran left-hander who has navigated his share of ups and downs over a long major league career, and his ability to command the strike zone and mix his arsenal will be the central storyline on the Cubs' side of the equation.
On the other side, Jared Jones gets the nod for the Pirates. Jones is one of the more intriguing young arms in the NL Central, a pitcher with live stuff who can make opposing lineups uncomfortable when he is operating at his best. The Cubs' hitters will need to be patient and make Jones work early in counts if they want to get into a Pittsburgh bullpen that has had its share of inconsistency this season.
Keys to Watch for the Cubs
- Boyd's command against a dangerous lineup: Pittsburgh can punish pitchers who fall behind in counts. Boyd's ability to get ahead early and avoid deep counts will go a long way toward determining how long he stays in this game.
- Cubs' plate discipline against Jones: Jones has the kind of velocity and movement that can overwhelm hitters who chase. Chicago needs to make him throw strikes and grind out at-bats.
- Bullpen management: In late July, how each manager deploys his relief corps matters. The Cubs' back-end arms will need to be sharp if this one stays close into the seventh inning and beyond.
- Capitalizing on scoring opportunities: PNC Park is a beautiful place to play but it rewards teams that execute in the middle innings. Leaving runners on base in a tight divisional game can be the difference between a series win and a series loss.
Cubs vs. Pirates Prediction
This has the feel of a tight, low-scoring game where pitching and defense will matter more than any single big inning. Boyd has the experience to navigate a tough environment, and if the Cubs' lineup can get to Jones before he settles in, Chicago has a real shot to steal the opener of this series. The Cubs take this one in a close game, 4-2. Catch the action on Marquee Sports Network or tune in on 104.3 The Score if you are making the drive home from work.
