Cubs win a game, get a brutal prize the next day

The Chicago Cubs finally found a way to stop the bleeding Wednesday night. Unfortunately for them, baseball does not exactly hand out sympathy rewards.

After snapping a brutal 10-game losing streak with a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Cubs now wake up Thursday staring at one of the worst possible follow-up assignments in baseball. A road matchup against the reigning National League Cy Young winner.

Chicago earned a much-needed exhale after nearly two weeks of frustration, but the schedule immediately turns ruthless again as the Cubs prepare to face Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes in the series finale at PNC Park. For a team desperately trying to rebuild confidence, the timing feels almost unfair.

Ian Happ finally gives Cubs fans something to enjoy again

Wednesday night looked completely different from the baseball Chicago had been playing during the losing streak. The offense finally woke up. Ian Happ delivered one of his best games of the season in his hometown, blasting a tiebreaking three-run homer and finishing with five RBIs. Happ also added a two-run single early in the game as Chicago exploded offensively for the first time in what felt like forever.

The Cubs desperately needed someone to change the energy surrounding the team, and Happ delivered exactly that. Even after Pittsburgh erased an early deficit behind a three-run homer from Brandon Lowe and a solo shot from rookie Konnor Griffin, Chicago responded instead of collapsing. That had not happened much during the losing streak.

Michael Conforto added a pinch-hit two-run homer later in the sixth inning as the Cubs piled on and finally looked like an offense capable of carrying a contender again. The win also prevented Chicago from spiraling even further in the National League Central race. After spending weeks looking like one of baseball’s hottest teams earlier this season, the Cubs suddenly entered Wednesday looking completely lost. One win does not erase all of that, but it changes the mood.

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Baseball immediately makes life difficult again

And now comes the problem. The Cubs get Skenes next. Even with a couple of recent shaky starts, Skenes remains one of the most intimidating pitchers in baseball and arguably the toughest possible matchup for a team still trying to regain offensive confidence.

That is what makes Thursday so fascinating. Skenes has looked slightly more human lately, allowing nine earned runs over his last two starts combined against the Toronto Blue Jays and Philadelphia Phillies. By normal pitcher standards, those outings are not disastrous.

By Skenes standards, they practically qualify as a slump. Even during this “rough” stretch, the Pirates ace still owns a 3.00 ERA, an absurd 0.82 WHIP and 65 strikeouts in just 60 innings this season. Opposing hitters still rarely square him up consistently, especially at home.

At PNC Park this season, Skenes has been dominant, posting a 2.62 ERA while striking out 43 hitters across just over 34 innings. That is the assignment waiting for Chicago after finally escaping its nightmare stretch.

Thursday suddenly feels bigger than one game

The Cubs have become one of baseball’s strangest teams this season. Chicago is now just the second team in MLB history to record two separate 10-game winning streaks and a 10-game losing streak in the same season, joining only the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers.

That statistic perfectly explains why it is still difficult to fully trust what this team is. At their best, the Cubs look capable of competing with anybody in the National League. At their worst, they look completely overwhelmed offensively and mentally exhausted.

Thursday’s matchup suddenly becomes an important measuring stick because of that. Can Chicago carry momentum from Wednesday into one of the toughest pitching matchups in baseball? Or was the breakout offensive performance simply a temporary escape from a deeper problem?

The Cubs finally gave themselves a reason to feel better. Baseball immediately decided that was enough fun.

More MLB news:

• Jordan Walker’s breakout is changing everything for the Cardinals
• Colton Cowser delivers historic Orioles moment when Baltimore needed it most
• Paul Skenes suddenly looks human again as Pirates’ problems keep growing
• Cardinals may have accidentally created the perfect baseball atmosphere
• James Wood delivered one of baseball’s rarest moments in win