Cubs 2024 road trip preview: Pittsburgh, Atlanta

The Cubs head east for their first divisional road matchup of the season with the Pirates, followed by a game against the elite Braves in Atlanta.

This road trip comes after a day of rest on Thursday, the first respite for the Cubs in more than 2 weeks (16 consecutive games).

The Cubs went 9-7 during that span and they finished the stretch with some excellent news on the injury front as Justin Steele returned on Monday and Cody Bellinger returned to the lineup on Tuesday. Seiya Suzuki isn’t far behind and should be activated off the IL this weekend.

Launch of probables

Pittsburgh

Friday: RHP Javier Assad vs. RHP Jared Jones
SATURDAY: LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Paul Skenes
Sunday: TBD vs. LHP Bailey Falter

Assad has been phenomenal for the Cubs this season, partnering with Shota Imanaga as the lone stabilizing force in an injury-filled rotation.

Steele’s return last week was a huge boost for the team, allowing Ben Brown to return to a reliever role, which should help a struggling bullpen.

Friday initially marked Jameson Taillon’s turn in the rotation and he will likely be lined up to start on Sunday. It would give him a little extra rest. He’s taken a big load in the rotation since coming off the IL when he missed the first 3 weeks of the season after a back injury slowed him in the spring.

If Taillon is unable to go, Brown could get a one-time start or the Cubs could opt for a day in the bullpen.

The Pirates have two exciting young righties in the series. First with Jones on Friday, then with Skenes on Saturday in what will be the MLB debut for the No. 1 overall pick last summer.

Atlanta

Monday: LHP Shota Imanaga vs. RHP Reynaldo López
Tuesday: RHP Hayden Wesneski vs. LHP Chris Sale
Wednesday: RHP Javier Assad vs. RHP Charlie Morton

Imanaga will have another opportunity to continue her excellent start to the season. To date, he has been the best pitcher in the game with a 5-0 record, a 1.08 ERA and a league-leading 0.82 WHIP.

Wesneski has been important for the Cubs, rounding out the rotation with Kyle Hendricks and Jordan Wicks on the IL.

López has been on par with Imanaga as one of the best pitchers in the game early with a 1.53 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 6 starts. Meanwhile, Chris Sale emerged as the ace in his first season in Atlanta with a 5-1 record, 2.95 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.

Quote of the week

“Recently it’s been difficult for me to get up in the morning, so if I pass the fans cheering when I wake up, I think I’ll get up pretty quickly,” Shota Imanaga joked after his Tuesday night outing at Wrigley Field .

Intrigues to watch out for

—The Cubs rotation is among the best in baseball with a 3.07 ERA on the season. And that includes Kyle Hendricks’ 12.00 ERA in his first 5 starts.

—The starting staff has kept the team in the game while the offense has slumped a bit lately (averaging 2.8 points per game over the last 12). But with Bellinger and Suzuki returning, the lineup is suddenly very long and the pressure is off the other guys.

—Once the Cubs finish playing the Pirates and Braves, they will return home to face…the Pirates and Braves. Oddly enough, from May 9-23, the only teams the Cubs face are the Pirates and the Braves!