This Friday marks the end of an era at Wrigley Field: the last Friday matinee game of the MLB season for the Chicago Cubs. And if you’re the Pittsburgh Pirates, this one feels like a cruel twist of the schedule, because the North Siders have every single advantage you can think of today. Seriously, it’s almost unfair. Bettors are already on it, with over 85% of the money and tickets piling onto the Chicago money line.
The Unbeatable Cubs Home Field Advantage You Didn’t See Coming
Forget home runs or pitching matchups, the Cubs have a unique edge today that almost never happens. There’s maybe no stronger advantage for any MLB team than when the Cubs were off Thursday, host one of these Friday matinees, and the visiting team had to travel in late the night before. The league office tries to avoid these setups, but with 162 games, it’s impossible to dodge completely. The Pirates are stuck in that exact spot, with one tiny asterisk: they played the White Sox last night. So, no plane trip needed from the South Side, but trust me, getting across Chicago and playing just 14 hours later at a different ballpark is still a major disadvantage. It’s not a full cross-country flight, but it’s far from ideal for a team needing every break.
Pittsburgh’s Playoff Dreams Are Colliding With a Gassed Bullpen
For Pittsburgh, this game could totally crush what little hope they had left. While it’s probably too little, too late for an NL wild-card chance, the Pirates have been on a sudden surge, winning four straight to get over .500 for the first time since July 29. They’re still 4.5 games back of the final NL wild-card spot, held by San Diego, so every game is critical. But manager Don Kelly is facing a major schematic hit: closer Mason Montgomery and setup man Luke Weaver are surely unavailable today. Both pitched the past two games, and that means key arms are missing when the stakes are highest. Finishing above .500 would be a massive step forward for the franchise, something they haven’t done since 2018. They have a bright future with guys like shortstop Konnor Griffin, Oneil Cruz, and Paul Skenes, but today feels like a brutal reality check.
The Cubs are locked in with the perfect setup, while the Pirates are battling fatigue and a short-handed bullpen with their postseason dreams barely hanging on. This matinee isn’t just another game; it’s a test of grit for Pittsburgh as they fight to prove they belong above .500, even if the wild card is slipping away. You gotta wonder if they can pull off a miracle with those key relievers sidelined.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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