The Pittsburgh Pirates return to PNC Park on Friday, July 24, to host the Chicago Cubs in a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Jared Jones gets the ball for the Buccos, squaring off against lefty Matthew Boyd as Chicago brings a dangerous lineup into one of baseball's best ballparks. This is a division-adjacent matchup with real standing implications, and how Pittsburgh's rotation handles a Cubs offense built around proven veterans will tell us something meaningful about where this team is headed.

Probable Pitchers: Jared Jones vs. Matthew Boyd

Jared Jones is the headliner here and rightfully so. The young right-hander has been Pittsburgh's most electric arm, and every start he makes at PNC Park is a chance to further cement his standing as the cornerstone of this rotation. Jones will need to manage a Cubs lineup that does not give away at-bats.

Matthew Boyd gets the call for Chicago. The veteran lefty brings experience and a different look than Pittsburgh has faced recently, and he is the kind of pitcher who can keep a lineup off-balance when his command is working. The Pirates will need to be disciplined early and not chase his softer stuff out of the zone.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup

• 1. Jake Mangum, CF
• 2. Nick Gonzales, 3B
• 3. Bryan Reynolds, LF
• 4. Esmerlyn Valdez, RF
• 5. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B
• 6. Marcell Ozuna, DH
• 7. Brandon Lowe, 2B
• 8. Jared Triolo, SS
• 9. Henry Davis, C

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

• 1. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
• 2. Seiya Suzuki, RF
• 3. Michael Busch, 1B
• 4. Alex Bregman, 3B
• 5. Ian Happ, LF
• 6. Nico Hoerner, 2B
• 7. Pedro Ramírez, DH
• 8. Carson Kelly, C
• 9. Dansby Swanson, SS

Keys to Watch Friday Night

Bryan Reynolds Sets the Tone at the Three Hole

Reynolds batting third is exactly where the Pirates need him. If Boyd is working with his off-speed stuff and spotting his fastball, Reynolds' ability to work counts and drive the ball the other way becomes critical. A productive Reynolds at-bat in the first inning can change the entire complexion of a game against a quality starter.

Bregman and the Middle of Chicago's Order

Alex Bregman batting cleanup is the central challenge for Jones. Bregman is a professional hitter who punishes pitches left over the plate. Jones will need his secondary offerings working to get through that stretch of the Chicago lineup — Suzuki, Busch, Bregman, Happ — without surrendering crooked numbers.

Henry Davis Behind the Plate

Davis catching Jones is a partnership worth tracking. The way Davis frames pitches and calls a game matters when Jones is at his best and especially when he is working through trouble. This is a real developmental touchstone for both players.

Pittsburgh's Bench and Bullpen Depth

If Boyd has his command early and Pittsburgh falls behind, manager Derek Shelton will need answers from the middle of the roster. How the Pirates respond to adversity in this one is as telling as anything on the stat sheet.

Prediction

This is a winnable game at home with Jones on the mound and a favorable crowd behind him at PNC Park. Chicago's lineup is experienced and will not be taken lightly, but if Jones is sharp through five or six innings and Reynolds and Ozuna do damage against Boyd, Pittsburgh takes this one. Pirates win, 4-2.

Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh on TV or locally on 104.3 The Score and Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.