The Pittsburgh Pirates head to Wrigley Field on Saturday, September 12, 2026, for a 2:20 PM ET matinee against the Chicago Cubs. Paul Skenes gets the ball for Pittsburgh, squaring off against former Pirates closer Clay Holmes in a fascinating pitching matchup between two arms with deep ties to this rivalry. This is a regular season game with NL standings implications, and with the Bucs away from PNC Park, Skenes will need to keep the Cubs' lineup — which includes Alex Bregman, Ian Happ, and Pete Crow-Armstrong — off the board in one of baseball's most storied ballparks.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs: Pitching Matchup Preview

Paul Skenes on the mound is always must-watch baseball, and Saturday is no exception. The Pirates' right-hander takes on a Cubs lineup that has legitimate run-producing threats top to bottom. On the other side, Clay Holmes — well known to Pirates fans from his time in Pittsburgh — gets the start for Chicago. Holmes has the experience and the repertoire to keep a Pirates lineup honest, so the Bucs will need to be disciplined and patient at the plate to generate offense.

Pittsburgh Pirates Starting Lineup at Wrigley Field

• 1. Oneil Cruz, CF
• 2. Brandon Lowe, 2B
• 3. Bryan Reynolds, LF
• 4. Konnor Griffin, SS
• 5. Ryan O'Hearn, DH
• 6. Spencer Horwitz, 1B
• 7. Jake Mangum, RF
• 8. Jacob Gonzalez, 3B
• 9. Henry Davis, C

Chicago Cubs Starting Lineup

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

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

• Skenes controlling the strike zone: Wrigley Field day games can be unpredictable environments. If Skenes commands his arsenal and keeps the Cubs' middle of the order — Bregman, Busch, and Happ — from doing damage, Pittsburgh has a real chance here.
• Oneil Cruz setting the table: Cruz leading off gives the Pirates a dynamic presence at the top. His ability to get on base and apply pressure on the basepaths can fundamentally change how Holmes approaches the rest of the order.
• Bryan Reynolds producing in the three-hole: Reynolds hitting third means Pittsburgh is counting on him to be the offense's engine. A productive afternoon from Reynolds would go a long way toward generating runs against Holmes.
• Henry Davis behind the plate: Davis catching Skenes is a critical partnership. His ability to frame pitches and manage the Cubs' lineup matters as much as anything happening in the batter's box.

Prediction

This game comes down to Skenes. When he is on, the Pirates are extremely difficult to beat regardless of venue. Holmes is a capable arm, but Pittsburgh's lineup has the depth to find a way against him. Look for a low-scoring, tightly contested game that could go either way late. Give the Pirates the slight edge on the strength of Skenes on the mound. Pirates 3, Cubs 2.

Catch the action on SportsNet Pittsburgh or locally on 100.1 FM/KDKA-AM 1020. First pitch from Wrigley Field is set for 2:20 PM ET on Saturday, September 12, 2026.