Sure, the Cubs are going to have frustrating losses when the offense doesn’t come through, but so far in 2025 the team has built up a great reputation at the plate. The lineup is deep, the players can hit for power and run the bases better than anyone else. Pirates’ starter Paul Skenes learned just how good the Cubs offense is this year during Thursday’s series finale in Pittsburgh.
The Cubs won 8-3, taking two of three from the Pirates with one of the best pitchers in MLB on the mound. Skenes was only able to go five innings, his shortest outing of the season and for the first time in his career the talented right-handed pitcher allowed three home runs in a start.
Skenes allowed the trio of home runs in a single inning against the Cubs as Dansby Swanson leadoff the fifth with his sixth homer of the year.
Then, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki went back-to-back, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead and effectively ending Skenes’ afternoon after five innings.
The loss for Skenes marked the first time in 2025, in which he walked more batters than struck out. The Cubs were able to be patient enough against the right-hander, drawing four walks and only striking out twice against Skenes.
Although the third inning came to a frustrating end with Michael Busch grounding into a double play, it definitely taxed Skenes’, who threw 21 pitches in the inning after walking three consecutive batters. Once the lineup turned over again the Cubs were all over the Pirates’ starter and then finished off Pittsburgh with five more runs against the bullpen.
After 32 games the Cubs lead MLB with 192 runs scored, averaging 6 runs per game, which also leads all of baseball. The team currently has three top-25 hitters, but almost everyone on the roster is contributing to one of the best all-around offensive teams in MLB and the NL leader in most offensive categories.
Cubs Rankings on Offense
.264 AVG (2nd)
.342 OBP (2nd)
.457 SLG (3rd)
124 wRC+ (3rd)
126 OPS+ (3rd)
44 SB (1st)
46 HR (3rd)
62 2B (4th)
9 3B (1st)
0.51 BB/K (t-2nd)
Thursday’s win also highlighted another big difference in the Cubs’ offense compared the past few years. They hit for more power and specifically the Cubs are hitting more home runs in 2025.
Keep it coming!
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I was skeptical of the Cubs for a while. You add Tucker who is way better than Bellinger, throw in Kelly and PCA, this lineup is stacked with hitters. If Shaw comes back and hits just a little, so the 9-hole isn’t an automatic out, the opposing pitcher will have to spend 100 pitches by the 6th inning. They have been raking on everyone.