On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates (29-43) face off against the Chicago Cubs (43-28) at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Keep up to date with all the MLB action, with our expert MLB picks.

Chicago comes into this matchup on a one-game winning streak and has won three of their last five games. During their 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, Dansby Swanson contributed to the Chicago Cubs’ win by going 1-for-3 at the plate, launching a home run, scoring a run, and driving in a run with his solo shot. On the season, Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as the Cubs’ top power hitter, leading the team with 18 home runs. Right behind him is Seiya Suzuki, who has belted 17 homers so far this year, making him the team’s second-leading home run hitter. Both Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong are tied as Chicago’s RBI leaders, each having driven in 57 runs to this point in the season, showcasing their consistency in producing runs for the team. When it comes to batting for average, Nico Hoerner stands out, currently pacing the club with a .288 batting average, the highest among Chicago’s hitters this year. Recently, the Cubs’ offense has averaged 3.2 runs per game over their last five contests, maintaining their position atop the NL Central thanks to solid if not explosive hitting. Chicago enters their next game looking to capitalize on home-field advantage and keep their momentum going against a Pittsburgh Pirates team that has struggled this season. On the season as a whole, the Cubs are averaging a robust 5.4 runs per game, reflecting their ability to score consistently throughout the lineup.

Pittsburgh enters this game on a one-game losing streak and has dropped three of their last five games. In Saturday’s narrow 2-1 defeat against the Chicago Cubs, Andrew McCutchen was a bright spot for the Pirates, collecting two hits in four at-bats, including a solo home run, and driving in Pittsburgh’s only run of the game. For the season, Oneil Cruz is leading the team in power, having hit a team-high thirteen home runs. Bryan Reynolds is next in line, sitting at eight homers on the season, and he also sits atop the Pirates’ RBI standings with 39 runs batted in. At the plate, McCutchen is pacing the squad with a .263 batting average, the best among Pittsburgh regulars so far this year. Over their last five games, the Pirates’ pitching and defense have actually performed well, limiting opponents to just 2.2 runs per game on average. However, offensive struggles—especially when it comes to hitting in clutch situations—have cost them, as they’ve lost three of their past five contests. Despite the recent skid, their defense has been a strong point, keeping them competitive in most games. Heading into Sunday’s matchup at Wrigley Field, the Pirates will look to get their offense into gear and snap out of their slump. On the season as a whole, Pittsburgh is averaging just 3.2 runs per game, highlighting their ongoing challenges at the plate.

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