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Today · 2:20 PM ETLineup pendingNL Central

Pittsburgh Pirates   vs   Chicago Cubs Preview

September 12, 2026

Starting pitchers, lineup status, recent form and weather at Wrigley Field.

2:20 PM ET · Wrigley FieldStats availableLineups not confirmed
T-Score65
Pittsburgh Pirates
74–73 · 3rd NL Central · T-Score 65
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First pitch 2:20 PM ET
Chicago Cubs
81–66 · 2nd NL Central · T-Score 64
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T-Score64
First pitch 2:20 PM ET

Matchup at a glance

PitcherStat calculation
CategoryComparisonWhy
Starting pitcherPiratesSkenes holds a modest edge in P-Score and K/9, while the ERA gap is small.
Offense vs handEvenBoth offenses perform near the same level against the opposing starter's handedness.
WeatherModerate impactA 10 mph wind could modestly increase carry on fly balls.

Starting pitchers

PIT
Paul Skenes RHP
Paul Skenes
Pittsburgh Pirates
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
3.83
89th
WHIP
1.15
52nd
K/9
10.51
23rd
BB/9
2.61
61st
P-Score76i
FIP
3.08
HR/9
0.87
50th
OPS/R
0.681
IP
155.0
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA3.70
Road ERA4.01
Last 5 starts
CHC
Clay Holmes RHP
Clay Holmes
Chicago Cubs
2026 season (MLB rank among qualified starters)
ERA
2.83
23rd
WHIP
1.12
39th
K/9
6.80
176th
BB/9
3.14
114th
P-Score65i
FIP
3.45
HR/9
0.52
9th
OPS/R
0.566
IP
86.0
2026 ERA splits
Home ERA1.77
Road ERA3.77
Last 5 starts
How the starters differ
·Skenes strikes out 3.7 more batters per nine innings.
·Holmes enters with a 2.83 ERA compared with Skenes's 3.83.
·Skenes has been more vulnerable to home runs, allowing 0.35 more per nine innings.
·Skenes has the stronger command profile, with a 2.6 BB/9 versus 3.1.
Advanced starter metricsERA−, FIP, WAR, career vs opponent
MetricSkenesHolmesNote
ERA−8969Park- and league-adjusted; 100 is average.
FIP3.083.45
WAR4.21.7Season value.

How the lineups match the starters' pitch mix

Pitch data coverage: partial. Usage and velocity only.

Skenes arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Four-seam41%96.9
Sweeper16%84.3
Changeup13%88.7
Sinker12%96.7
Splitter11%93.2
Slider8%86.7
Curveball0%81.8
Holmes arsenal
PitchUsageVelo
Sinker50%93.1
Sweeper17%81.5
Changeup14%88.1
Cutter10%86.3
Curveball7%81.2
Four-seam1%92.9

Team OPS vs opposing starter's hand

Pirates vs RHP (Clay Holmes)
3rd
in MLB
0.756OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000
Cubs vs RHP (Paul Skenes)
6th
in MLB
0.754OPS
.600.700.800.9001.000

Lineups

Lineup pendingOrder from the stored snapshot; treat as unofficial until the card is filed.Full lineup page →
Lineups not announced

Neither club has posted a batting order. Handedness composition, H-Score leaders and batter-vs-pitcher samples appear here as soon as the first order is filed — typically two to three hours before first pitch.

Team comparison

ResultsPITPIT·CHCCHC
+22212th
Run differential
+3053rd
74–73 Record81–66
Last 10 games
Pittsburgh Pirates (0–0)
Chicago Cubs (0–0)
2026 head-to-head
Season Series
0—0
0 Games Played

Frequently asked

Who is starting for the Pirates?+
Paul Skenes is listed as the starter.
Who is starting for the Cubs?+
Clay Holmes is listed as the starter.
What time does the game start?+
2:20 PM ET at Wrigley Field.
Where is the game being played?+
Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.
Are the lineups confirmed?+
Not yet. Orders appear here when they are posted.
How do the starters compare on P-Score?+
Paul Skenes is at 76; Clay Holmes is at 65. P-Score is PitcherStat's 0–100 season index for qualified starters.