Cubs Avoid Series Sweep with 7-6 Comeback Victory Over Pirates
The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates played the third and final game of their weekend series on Sunday, April 12th, with the Cubs winning 7-6. Chicago avoided a sweep by their divisional foe with the win, after losing the first game 2-0 and the second 4-3. Early on in this game, it looked like the Pirates were going to dance their way to their third straight victory, as they found themselves up 5-0 in just the second inning. The Cubs, however, continuously chipped away at the lead, tying the game at 6-6 in the eighth and walking it off in the bottom of the ninth. Despite the result, the Pirates remain at the top of the NL Central with a record of 9-6, while the Cubs still dwell at the bottom of the tightly knit division at 7-8. So, what should we make of the Cubs’ comeback victory?
Cubs Offense Still Capable Despite Slow Start
It’s no secret that the Cubs have had quite a disappointing start to their season, especially on the offensive side. Last year, they boasted one of the most electric batting rosters in Major League Baseball, but so far this season, they rank in the bottom 10 in the league in hits, batting average, and OBP. This game was a nice reminder for Cubs fans that the team does have very capable hitters in the lineup. Dansby Swanson and Moises Ballesteros got the ball rolling for Chicago with solo home runs in the third inning, and Carson Kelly went two for five at the plate with a clutch RBI single in the ninth to win the game. While it would certainly be nice to find some consistency at the plate, games like the comeback win over the Pirates show us that the Cubs are still more than capable of running up the score.
Pirates Need More Consistency on the Mound
While Pittsburgh’s starting rotation does boast the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes, as well as veteran right-hander Mitch Keller, there’s little to write home about from there. In the series closer against Chicago, the Pirates gave the start to the third starter in their depth chart, Bubba Chandler. In just over five innings, Chandler gave up five hits and three earned runs while walking two batters. Mind you, these stats came against a team that had been held to just 15 hits and three total runs in the previous two games of the series combined. Not to mention the fact that three pitchers out of the bullpen gave up five hits and three more earned runs while ultimately blowing the game. Pittsburgh is off to a great start this season, but pitching struggles can quickly catch up with a team.
Cubs’ Star Center Fielder Is in a Serious Slump
In 2025, young outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong took the baseball world by storm. In his third season with the team, he earned a Gold Glove Award, an all-star selection, and even found his way into early-season MVP conversations during his breakout campaign. However, it’s been a rough start to 2026 for PCA. Through the first 15 games of the Cubs’ season, Crow-Armstrong is batting a measly .203 with one home run and 19 strikeouts so far. In this series against the Pirates, he went 1-12 and struck out six times. There’s still plenty of season left, but right now, it’s looking like Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 season may have simply been a Cinderella story.
