Cubs vs Pirates Preview: Taillon Faces Skenes-Worthy Night

The Pirates absolutely dominated the Cubs yesterday. Pittsburgh scored five runs in the first inning alone. Valdez crushed a home run that traveled 415 feet. The Pirates' bats were unstoppable all night long. Horwitz added a two-run homer in the sixth. The Cubs managed just one run on a Bregman double. This was a statement game from Pittsburgh. The Cubs fell to 0-10 in their last ten games. That's a brutal stretch for Chicago. But sports are about bouncing back. Taillon gets his shot to turn things around tonight.

Jameson Taillon takes the mound for Chicago tonight. Here's the thing: Taillon used to pitch for Pittsburgh. He knows this ballpark. He knows these hitters. But he's in a Cubs uniform now. Taillon's stats show he's averaging three strikeouts per game. His WHIP is 1.43. The Cubs need him to be sharp and efficient. Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler starts for the home team. The Pirates are riding a three-game winning streak. They're hungry after yesterday's explosive offensive display. This matchup has serious playoff intensity written all over it.

Chicago's record is 29-26. Their streak tells the real story: zero wins in the last ten games. That's hard to watch for any baseball fan. But this team still has talent. They have lineup depth and solid defense. Tonight is about stopping the bleeding and building momentum. The Pirates sit at 29-26 as well. Records are tied. PNC Park is a beautiful stadium to play in. The Cubs need Taillon to be their anchor. One victory would feel like everything right now. Can Chicago find its way back to winning baseball?