The Chicago Cubs send Shota Imanaga to the hill for a marquee pitching matchup on Saturday, July 25, 2026, when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Imanaga squares off against Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes in what shapes up as one of the better arms-versus-arms showdowns the NL Central has offered this season. Cubs fans can catch the action on Marquee Sports Network or listen in on 104.3 The Score.
Probable Starters: Imanaga vs. Skenes
Shota Imanaga has been one of the Cubs' most dependable rotation pieces since arriving from Japan. The left-hander's ability to command multiple pitches and work efficiently deep into games gives Chicago a genuine chance to steal a quality result on the road. Limiting free passes and keeping the Pirates' lineup off-balance will be essential against a Pittsburgh offense that can do damage when pitchers fall behind in the count.
On the other side, Paul Skenes is exactly the kind of opponent that tests a lineup's discipline and patience. The young Pirates starter has generated significant buzz around the league for the life on his fastball and the depth of his secondary offerings. The Cubs will need to grind out at-bats, work counts, and avoid giving Skenes easy outs early in the game. If Chicago's hitters can get into the Pittsburgh bullpen, the equation shifts considerably in the Cubs' favor.
Keys to Watch for the Cubs
- Plate discipline against Skenes: Skenes can be overpowering when hitters swing early and chase. The Cubs need to make him work, elevate his pitch count, and look for mistakes when they come.
- Imanaga's command: Walks are the enemy in a tight, low-scoring game. If Imanaga locates his pitches and avoids putting runners on base for free, he gives the Cubs every reason to feel good about this one through six or seven innings.
- Run support on the road: PNC Park is a pitcher-friendly environment and Skenes only amplifies that reality. The Cubs need to manufacture runs early — singles, walks, smart baserunning — rather than waiting around for the big inning that may never come.
- Bullpen depth: Should either starter exit early, the back-end relievers become the story. Watch how both managers deploy their pens in the middle innings if this game stays close.
Prediction
This is a grind-it-out road game, the kind that separates clubs with genuine postseason ambitions from those just going through the motions in late July. Imanaga is more than capable of keeping the Cubs competitive, but Skenes is a legitimately difficult puzzle to solve. Expect a tight, low-scoring affair that likely hinges on one or two key moments — a timely hit, a stolen base, or a missed location that gets punished. The Cubs have the pitching to stay in it. The question is whether the offense can squeeze out enough against one of the more difficult starting pitchers in the NL. Lean Cubs 3-2 in a close one, but do not sleep on Pittsburgh at home.
