The Chicago Cubs gave their fans something to celebrate Friday, snapping a four-game losing streak with a dominant 12–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The win was badly needed after Chicago had been swept by Milwaukee and watched its position in the National League wild-card race become increasingly uncomfortable.
Cubs’ offense explodes at the right time
Chicago’s offense suddenly came alive in the series opener against Pittsburgh, producing 16 hits. Alex Bregman delivered a two-run homer, his 25th of the season while Michael Busch drove in three runs. Seiya Suzuki added three hits and scored three times, while Carson Kelly contributed a two-run double.
Shōta Imanaga also gave the Cubs exactly what they needed from the mound. He allowed two runs across six innings and improved to 10–10, while continuing his remarkable success against Pittsburgh. Imanaga is now 4–0 in seven career starts against the Pirates.
Pete Crow-Armstrong remains the biggest Cubs storyline
Even with the team trying to stabilize its playoff position, Pete Crow-Armstrong continues to be the player attracting the most attention. PCA has already reached 41 home runs and 36 stolen bases, putting him within striking distance of the incredibly rare 40/40 milestone. With 15 games remaining, he needs only four more steals to reach the mark.
There is another piece of history within reach. Crow-Armstrong is also approaching Billy Williams’ Cubs record for home runs by a left-handed hitter. He needs only two more homers to surpass Williams’ 42-homer mark, meaning PCA could potentially finish the season with both a historic power-speed combination and a new franchise record.
But the pitching remains a concern
The 12-run explosion against Pittsburgh cannot completely erase the concerns created during the previous series. Chicago dropped four straight games before Friday, including three consecutive losses to Milwaukee. Kevin Gausman was hit hard in one of those defeats, surrendering three home runs and seven runs in four innings.
The bullpen has also become a major source of anxiety. Chicago lost consecutive one-run games to Milwaukee after holding leads, with late-inning failures becoming an increasingly familiar problem. Jacob Webb surrendered a game-tying ninth-inning homer in one of those games, while other bullpen decisions have drawn scrutiny.
The playoff race is getting uncomfortable
Chicago’s situation is particularly important because Milwaukee has essentially run away with the NL Central. The Brewers have now clinched a postseason berth and hold a 10-game lead over the Cubs in the division.
That means the Cubs’ clearest route to October increasingly depends on the wild card. The team cannot afford another extended losing streak, particularly with other NL contenders fighting for the same postseason positions.
The good news is that Friday’s victory stopped the bleeding immediately. The Cubs now have an opportunity to build momentum during the final stretch rather than allowing one bad week to derail what had been a strong season.
Why Cubs fans should be watching closely
The most intriguing storyline may ultimately be the contrast between PCA’s historic season and Chicago’s increasingly fragile pitching situation. Crow-Armstrong is playing at an MVP-caliber level, while the offense has enough firepower to overwhelm opponents when everything clicks.
But October baseball exposes pitching weaknesses quickly. If the Cubs cannot find consistency from the rotation and bullpen, their impressive offensive production may not be enough.
For now, however, Friday’s 12–2 demolition of Pittsburgh provided exactly the response Chicago needed. The Cubs stopped their four-game slide, Imanaga delivered a quality start, and the lineup finally looked dangerous again. The question now is whether Friday represents the beginning of another winning stretch or simply a temporary escape from a growing September problem.
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