Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Thursday 5/1, 11:35 a.m. CT

The Cubs again go for the series win. But it will not be easy.

Thursday notes…

• IT’S A NEW MONTH TODAY: The Cubs completed their challenging March-April schedule with a record of 18-13, for a winning percentage of .581. The seven teams they played — the Athletics, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Padres, Phillies, Padres and Rangers — are a combined 117-97, .547. When not playing the Cubs, they were 104-67, .568, which is equivalent to 92-70 over a full season. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• AFTERNOON DELIGHT: Today’s game will be the seventh of 32 day games on weekdays that the Cubs are scheduled to play. They are 4-2 in the first six, having won at Sacramento and at home vs. the Padres, lost at home vs. the Rangers and at San Diego, and having won at home vs. the Diamondbacks and Phillies.The game today will be the first of seven on a Thursday. Only two will be at home, both against the Brewers, on June 19 and Aug. 21.The Cubs will play in sunshine on 10 Wednesdays, four at home. They are 1-2 in those games so far. They will play on two Mondays, both at home, vs. the Rockies on May 26 and the Braves on Sept. 1. And they will play on 13 Fridays, all at home except July 18 at Boston in their first game after the break for the All-Star Game. The Cubs are 3-0 in Friday day games so far. (Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
• STARTING TO HIT: Dansby Swanson, last nine games since April 19: .286/.342/.486 (10-for-35) with two doubles, a triple, a home run and eight runs scored. He’s 4-for-7 in this series so far.
• IN A SLUMP: Kyle Tucker, last six games since April 23: .091/.231/.091 (2-for-22), four walks.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Pirates lineup:

Colin Rea, RHP vs. Paul Skenes, RHP

About the only thing you could complain about the start to Colin Rea’s season is that he hasn’t given enough length in his starts. In his last outing, April 25 vs. the Phillies, he threw five innings for the first time in 2025. It was also the first time he’d thrown more than 70 pitches this year.

Rea had two starts and one relief appearance against the Pirates in 2024 and one of those starts was pretty bad. You probably don’t want to look at that boxscore link. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Rea in general has thrown well this year and I expect that to continue.

Paul Skenes made his MLB debut against the Cubs May 11, 2024 in Pittsburgh. He was touched up for three runs in four innings and Nico Hoerner homered off him.

Skenes made three other starts vs. the Cubs last year and allowed two earned runs in 16 innings (1.13 ERA) with 23 strikeouts. (One of those starts was the amazing 14-10 Cubs comeback win last August.)

This year Skenes has made five starts. He’s not invincible — the Cardinals got him for five runs in six innings April 8 at PNC Park — but in his other four starts he’s allowed five earned runs in 31⅔ innings (1.42 ERA). In 37⅔ total innings this year Skenes has allowed one home run (Kyle Manzardo of the Guardians).

This one will not be easy. On paper, this seems a mismatch. As the saying goes: They don’t play the games on paper.

Baseball Savant

Baseball Savant

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. You can find out if Marquee is available via a provider in your area here

Here is the complete MLB.com live streaming page for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

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The 2025 Game Thread procedure will be identical to last year’s.

You’ll find the game preview posted separately on the front page two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.