Pittsburgh At Wrigley: Pirates, Cubs Game-1 Preview

The Bucs are coming off a heartbreaking home-opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers. Pittsburgh dropped two games in the three-game set. In the final game on Wednesday, the Pirates were held to one hit which came early in the game. 

The Cubs on the other hand took two of three in their series against the Cincinnati Reds. In the last game of the set, the Cubs lost 12-7, however they tried to make a late game comeback.

Pitching

The starters for game one are Trevor Williams for Pittsburgh, and Yu Darvish for Chicago. Both pitchers have yet to get in the win column this year. Williams is 0-1 with a 7.36 ERA. And Darvish is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. So, it’s an evenly matched game one for the most part.

Neither team has much of a bullpen. The Bucs’ bullpen has been invisible the last two weeks, and when they do show up, they still lose. The Cubs? Same results for the most part.

Hitting

The Pirates have struggled at the plate lately, and have an overall batting average of .171. Compare that to the Cubs’ .241 batting average, it’s clear the Bucs are in for another long series.

Anthony Rizzo and Colin Moran are tied for home runs at three, and both lead their squad as well.  However, Moran’s batting average of .300 is no match for Nico Hoerner’s .389 average. 

Who Wins?

The Pirates’ inconsistency at the plate and on the mound will be their downfall during this series. And the rest of 2020 if they don’t get on the right track. The Cubs have too much power in their lineup, from Rizzo to Kris Bryant. The Bucs’ bullpen will be tested in the next few days.

Like the Milwaukee series, the Bucs won one-out of- three against the Cubs. Although, Darvish struggled in his first appearance this year, he’s a Cy Young candidate who’ll get hot wuick. Facing the Bucs may be just what he he needs, so Pittsburgh better hit him hard and fast before he figures it out. When Darvish is on his games, he’s a strikeout maniac, and he’ll be facing a Pirates offense, which has already struck out a total of 41 times this year.

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