The Chicago Cubs enter Saturday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates with momentum and confidence, sitting atop the National League Central at 42–28 and playing some of their most balanced and consistent baseball in recent years under the leadership of manager Craig Counsell. This 2025 Cubs squad has found a winning formula rooted in aggressive, high-contact hitting, reliable starting pitching, and one of the most effective bullpens in the league, all of which were on full display in Friday’s dominant victory over the Pirates, where they comfortably covered the run line. Their offensive engine has been sparked by breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong, whose combination of elite speed, gap power, and defensive excellence in center field has made him one of the most exciting young players in the game, while Seiya Suzuki continues to anchor the middle of the order with clutch hits and timely home runs. The lineup is deep and relentless, with Cody Bellinger and Nico Hoerner providing additional production, and their ability to manufacture runs and apply pressure on opposing defenses has elevated them to top-five in MLB slugging. Saturday’s starting pitcher Matthew Boyd brings a 5–3 record and an excellent 2.89 ERA into the matchup, offering a left-handed option with experience and strikeout ability who can set the tone early and limit damage from Pittsburgh’s limited offense.

Boyd’s command and composure have been key to keeping big innings off the board, and with Chicago’s bullpen pitching to a 0.90 ERA over the last 23 games, he doesn’t need to be perfect—just efficient enough to hand off the game with a lead. That bullpen, led by Adbert Alzolay and Julian Merryweather, has shut down late rallies with consistency, helping the Cubs win a large majority of games when leading after six innings. On defense, the Cubs continue to shine with sharp infield play and an outfield that tracks down extra-base hits, giving pitchers added confidence to pitch to contact. At home, Chicago has been particularly dominant, sporting a 21–12 record at Wrigley Field, where the crowd energy and familiarity with the park’s unique dimensions often play to their advantage. Counsell has expertly managed platoons and matchups, keeping his roster fresh while leveraging favorable right-left splits in key moments, and that depth has been instrumental in navigating injuries and maintaining production throughout the lineup. Against a Pirates team that has struggled on the road and failed to consistently support their pitching, the Cubs are primed to apply early pressure, extend leads with timely hitting, and ride their superior pitching staff to another victory. With the division race heating up and playoff aspirations firmly in focus, every series matters, and Chicago is treating this homestand as a chance to create distance from the pack. If the Cubs continue executing in all facets of the game as they have in recent weeks, Saturday’s matchup looks to be another opportunity to reinforce their dominance and take one step closer to postseason baseball at Wrigley in 2025.