The week ahead
vs. Cubs
6:40 p.m. Tuesday (SN PIT)
6:40 p.m. Wednesday (SN PIT)
12:35 p.m. Thursday (SN PIT)
• Following their six-game West Coast road trip, the Pirates return to PNC Park starting Tuesday for their first NL Central divisional action in nearly three weeks. Chicago, off to a red-hot start at the plate a month into the 2025 campaign, brings one of the top overall offenses to Pittsburgh for three games against the Pirates. As they prepared to wrap up a recent series vs. the L.A. Dodgers, the Cubs were leading baseball in hits (235), batting average (.265) and on-base percentage (.344). On the mound, Chicago recently lost lefty Justin Steele (3-1, 4.76 ERA) to season-ending elbow surgery. The Cubs also made a trade for some bullpen help, acquiring 36-year-old left-hander Drew Pomeranz from the Mariners.
vs. Padres
6:40 p.m. Friday (Apple TV+)
4:05 p.m. Saturday (SN PIT)
1:35 p.m. Sunday (SN PIT)
• San Diego is off to a dominant start in a talented NL West Division, bolstered by a combination of solid pitching and hitting. The Padres’ team ERA of 2.85 ranked second in MLB last week, as did their club batting average (.264). It remains to be seen whether the Padres will arrive at PNC Park with the services of three-time batting champion and three-time All-Star Luis Arraez, who was placed on the seven-day concussion injured list April 21. Arraez was hitting .287 with three homers and seven RBIs at the time of his injured list placement.
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