Cubs vs. Pirates: Series Thead (Games 13-16)

The Cubs (6-6) welcome the Pirates (5-7) to Wrigley for the first time this season. Seiya Suzuki comes into the series having reached base safely in all 12 of his MLB games so far and leading the majors in OBP and walk percentage and third in slugging. See below for the daily matchups.

Game 13, Thursday, April 21, 6:40 pm central

CHC: RHP Mark Leiter Jr (0-1, 18.90 ERA)

PIT: RHP Bryse Wilson (0-0, 5.40 ERA)

Leiter had a respectable spring camp but a rough go in his first regular season start. He went 3.1 innings in Colorado absorbing seven earned runs on four walks and five hits. The forecast calls for temperatures in the high fifties and wind from left to right, which I would considerable favorable hitting conditions for Wrigley at this time of year, but it should be preferable to his last appearance at altitude. Either this start or the next may be Leiter's last chance for a while to work out of the rotation if Alec Mills continues to build up his arm on schedule.

Wilson appeared twice against the Cubs in early 2021, before Atlanta traded him to Pittsburgh. He went a total eight innings and allowed six earned runs while striking out only two batters across those two starts. He sits low-to-mid-90s with his fastball and relies on command of the strike zone along with a plus change that he's using a bit more in the early going of 2022.

Game 14, Friday, April 22, 1:20 pm central

CHC: LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

PIT: LHP Jose Quintana (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

Smyly has been an admirable fill-in with Mills and Miley both out in the early going. He last struck out four Rockies while blanking the opposition for 4.2 innings.

Quintana surrendered a loss to the Cubs in his first outing of the season despite allowing only one earned run over five innings. In his second appearance, he went four innings and allowed three walks and five hits to the Nationals. He has five strikeouts to five walks so far this season and has thrown his fastball well under 50% of the time in the early going.

Game 15, Saturday, April 23, 1:20 pm central

CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (0-1, 6.08 ERA)

PIT: RHP Zach Thompson (0-1, 9.00 ERA)

The Pirates worked Hendricks for six earned runs on four walks and seven hits back on April 13. He rebounded a bit against Tampa but was unable to get out of the fifth. His first pitche strike percentage is way down to start this season--and the Pirates showed a good deal of patience in the last encounter.

Zach Thompson, who stands 6' 7", made his MLB debut last year and had a 3.24 ERA in 75 innings pitched to show for it. He's made one solid start against the Cubs and one wild start against the Brewers thus far in 2022. Command held him back as a prospect, but he did keep the walks under control last season.

Game 16, Sunday, April 24, 1:20 pm central

CHC: LHP Justin Steele (1-1, 4.50 ERA)

PIT: RHP JT Brubaker (0-2, 7.30 ERA)

Steele's last start against the Rays fell apart rather quickly, with him allowing four earned runs in only 2.2 innings pitched, looking a bit wild and pretty hittable in that frame. Hopefully he can shake it off and get back to being a surprisingly decent two-pitch starter.

Brubaker was plagued by the long ball in 2021, his first full season in the majors. So far in 2022, he's allowing too many walks as well as too much hard contact. This will be his first appearance against the Cubs this year.