The Pittsburgh Pirates welcome the Chicago Cubs to PNC Park on Sunday, July 26, for a 1:35 PM ET afternoon game that gives Braxton Ashcraft a chance to build on his development as one of the organization's most closely watched young arms. Jameson Taillon — a name Pirates fans know well from his previous tenure in Pittsburgh — starts for Chicago. This is a division matchup that carries genuine weight, and with both lineups set and starters confirmed, there's plenty to dig into before first pitch.

Starting Pitchers: Ashcraft vs. Taillon

Braxton Ashcraft gets the ball for Pittsburgh. The right-hander is still carving out his place in a major league rotation, and every outing is a data point for what the Pirates can expect from him going forward. His ability to command the zone and limit hard contact will be the central storyline on the Pittsburgh side of the ledger.

Jameson Taillon opposing the Bucs at PNC Park is one of those storylines that writes itself. The former Pirates starter knows this ballpark, knows this organization, and you can be certain the Pittsburgh faithful will have opinions about seeing him in a Cubs uniform on the North Shore. Taillon has always been a strike-thrower with a quality arsenal, and his familiarity with PNC Park's dimensions could cut both ways — comfort for him, motivation for the Pirates lineup.

Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup

• 1. Jake Mangum, CF
• 2. Brandon Lowe, 2B
• 3. Bryan Reynolds, DH
• 4. Esmerlyn Valdez, RF
• 5. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B
• 6. Nick Gonzales, 3B
• 7. Jacob Gonzalez, SS
• 8. Shawn Ross, C
• 9. Tyler Callihan, LF

Chicago Cubs Lineup

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

Keys to Watch

Bryan Reynolds in the Middle of the Order

Reynolds slots in at DH and bats third, which puts him in the heart of Pittsburgh's offense. If the Pirates are going to do damage against Taillon, Reynolds generating traffic and driving runs is a prerequisite. He is the engine of this lineup.

Esmerlyn Valdez Batting Cleanup

Valdez hitting fourth is worth tracking closely. The young outfielder is being asked to fill a significant role in this lineup, and how he handles Taillon's repertoire will tell us something about where his development stands.

Ashcraft's Command Against a Disciplined Cubs Order

Chicago's lineup — Suzuki, Busch, Happ, Hoerner, Conforto — is built with veterans who work counts and punish mistakes. Ashcraft will need to be sharp with his locations. Free passes against this group get expensive in a hurry.

Pete Crow-Armstrong at the Top

The Cubs leadoff man is a legitimate threat on the bases and in the field. Ashcraft and catcher Shawn Ross will need to keep Crow-Armstrong in check if Pittsburgh wants to keep Chicago's offense from gaining momentum early.

Prediction

This is a competitive division game at a beautiful ballpark on a Sunday afternoon. The Pirates take this one if Ashcraft can give them five or six innings of quality work and Reynolds delivers at least one big hit against his former teammate Taillon. Pittsburgh wins, 4-2, with the home crowd making some noise on the North Shore.

Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh or Marquee Sports Network on TV, or tune in on 104.3 The Score and Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.