Al Yellon created Bleed Cubbie Blue and has been its managing editor since 2005. His latest book about the Cubs is "Chicago Cubs Firsts." Find him on Bluesky at @bleedcubbieblue.bsky.social
When the Cubs last played the Pirates, taking two of three in PNC Park in April, Derek Shelton was their manager.
About a week after that series, Shelton was fired and replaced by bench coach Don Kelly. So that’s something new since these teams last met.
For more on the Pirates, here’s Austin Bechtold, a writer for our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.