Jordan Wicks Will Start Tuesday in Pittsburgh, Where He Made Stellar MLB Debut PITTSBURGH — Jordan Wicks, the Cubs’ left-hander, will start Tuesday against the Pirates at PNC Park, the same venue where he made his major-league debut in August 2023. The 26-year-old pitcher will replace injured starter Edward Cabrera in the rotation, marking his first start of the 2026 season. Wicks’ return to Pittsburgh is a nostalgic moment for the player, who described the stadium as a “cool park to debut in” and recalled the excitement of the occasion. Wicks’ debut on August 26, 2023, was a memorable one. He faced the Pirates in a game that ended in a 10-6 Cubs victory. The first batter he encountered, Ke’Bryan Hayes, hit his second pitch of the game down the left-field line for a home run, quickly turning the game into a loud, electric atmosphere. Despite the early challenge, Wicks settled in, retiring the next 15 Pirates batters he faced and striking out nine. He left the game with a 2-1 lead and was credited as the winning pitcher. His performance earned praise from Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy, who made a deliberate visit to the mound during the game. Wicks remembered the moment as “the greatest mound visit ever,” though Hottovy clarified it was more of a friendly reminder than a strategic adjustment. Hottovy told Wicks to trust his mechanics and focus on his strengths, particularly his changeup. “I told him: ‘McCutchen is a smart hitter. He walked on a really good changeup. You keep doing the same thing, the rest of the lineup, they want to swing,’” Hottovy recalled. Wicks followed the advice, striking out the side in the second inning and retiring all 15 batters he faced.#pittsburgh #cubs #pnc_park #jordan_wicks #tommy_hottovy
Aaron Nola’s $172 Million Nightmare: Phillies Ace Enters Tonight’s Start in Pittsburgh With a 5.14 ERA and Nowhere to Hide The Philadelphia Phillies’ ace, Aaron Nola, faces a critical test tonight as he takes the mound at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Entering the game with a 5.14 ERA through eight starts in 2026, Nola carries a $172 million contract that has increasingly become a financial burden for the team. His performance this season has raised serious concerns about his ability to fulfill the expectations tied to his landmark deal, which was signed in 2024. The Phillies, now 21-23 and struggling in the NL East, are in danger of watching their investment in Nola unravel as he fails to return to the form that made him a cornerstone of their roster. Nola, 32, inked his seven-year, $172 million contract in 2024, a decision that was justified at the time by his decade of elite production in Philadelphia. From 2018 to 2024, he threw over 1,000 innings, accumulated 26 wins above replacement (fifth in baseball over that span), and maintained a career ERA of 3.72. The Phillies viewed him as a long-term asset, not a liability. However, two years into the deal, the narrative has shifted dramatically. Nola’s 2025 season was marred by a right ankle sprain and a subsequent stress fracture in his right rib, which forced him to miss over three months. Despite a strong showing for Team Italy in the 2025 World Baseball Classic, he never fully recovered, leading to a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts. The 2026 season has not brought the expected rebound. Through eight starts, Nola has allowed 47 hits and seven home runs in 42 innings, with a 1.48 WHIP that highlights his struggles to control the game. His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 44-to-15 is respectable, but the damage from contact has been severe.#philadelphia_phillies #aaron_nola #pittsburgh_pirates #pnc_park #fan_sided
Padres vs Pirates Prediction, Pick, MLB Odds for Monday, April 6 The Pittsburgh Pirates host the San Diego Padres on April 6, 2026, in a matchup set for 6:40 p.m. EDT at PNC Park. The game will be broadcast on SportsNet PT, with the Pirates favored at -135 on the moneyline and -1.5 on the run line. The Padres are listed at +111 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line, with the total set at 8.5 runs. The Pirates are entering the game with a strong 6-3 record, while the Padres aim to rebound from a 4-5 start to the season. Bubba Chandler will start for Pittsburgh in his second appearance of the year, following an impressive debut where he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings against the Reds, allowing no hits or runs and posting a 0.00 ERA. The right-hander has yet to allow a run in his first two starts, with a 0.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 12 innings. San Diego will counter with German Marquez, who is coming off a rough first start. The right-hander allowed four earned runs on eight hits over three innings against the Giants, raising his ERA to 12.00. Opponents have hit .471 against him through his first start, and Marquez is expected to face a tough test against the Pirates’ lineup. Both teams feature key bats capable of shifting the game, including Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado for the Padres. The Pirates’ lineup includes sluggers like Josh Bell and Ke’Bryan Hayes, who have shown power potential. The game’s outcome could hinge on how each team’s starting pitcher performs, as well as the effectiveness of their bullpen. The "Revenge Spot Favorites" system in MLB moneyline betting highlights teams that recently lost to the same opponent by a narrow margin. This system favors teams with winning records, solid average margins of victory, and moderate favorability in the market.#san_diego_padres #pittsburgh_pirates #pnc_park #bubba_chandler #german_marquez
Sheetz to Donate $100 to Pittsburgh Food Bank for Each Pirates Home Run Sheetz announced on Thursday that it will donate $100 to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank for every home run hit by the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2024 season. The initiative, named “Home Runz for Hunger,” was revealed one day before the team’s home opener at PNC Park, marking a new partnership between the convenience store chain and the local food bank. Fans attending Friday’s game will have the opportunity to view a newly installed Sheetz home run board in the right field foul area, which will track the team’s home run count in real time throughout the season. The donation plan is designed to provide an additional 300 meals to individuals and families in need for each home run. Sheetz emphasized that this initiative builds on its long-standing collaboration with the food bank through its “Made-to-Share” program, which has already contributed over 950,000 pounds of food to the organization over the past decade. The company’s commitment to supporting the community extends beyond the baseball season, with the food bank benefiting from Sheetz’s ongoing efforts to address food insecurity in the region. The home run board, a visible feature at PNC Park, will serve as both a fan attraction and a tangible representation of the partnership’s impact. Sheetz’s decision to tie its donation to the Pirates’ performance highlights the growing trend of corporate sponsorships in sports that align with social responsibility goals. The initiative also underscores the role of local businesses in addressing community needs, particularly in areas where economic challenges persist.#pittsburgh_pirates #sheetz #greater_pittsburgh_community_food_bank #pnc_park #made_to_share
