The Chicago Cubs are experiencing a significant downturn.
Their struggles reached an unprecedented level on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, as their poor performance in May persisted with a decisive 12-1 loss against the Pirates. The Cubs, who boasted a 27-12 record by May 8 following their second 10-game victory run of the 2026 season, currently stand at 29-26, having endured a 10-game losing streak and 14 defeats in their most recent 16 matchups.
They are consistently ceding position in a competitive NL Central division, notably the sole MLB division where every team maintains a winning record.
Chicago’s batting lineup has been unproductive throughout this period without victories. The Cubs have faced considerable difficulty converting opportunities with players in scoring positions, a problem that resurfaced on Tuesday at PNC Park. Despite accumulating eight hits, their singular point was scored in the second inning. With runners positioned on first and second bases and no outs in the ninth, they again failed to score, concluding the overwhelming defeat meekly.
Chicago’s current 10-game losing streak represents their most extended period of consecutive losses since a similar downturn from June 4-16, 2022. This season’s unproductive phase began prior to June, as did the team’s pair of 10-game winning streaks.
Have any other MLB clubs previously encountered such extreme fluctuations in performance?
Yes. In 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers achieved 10 consecutive victories in June and 11 in July, only to suffer 11 consecutive defeats in September. Notably, the Dodgers advanced to the World Series that year, ultimately falling in a seven-game series to the Houston Astros.
Regarding the Pirates, their record currently stands at 29-26. They have secured five wins in their last seven games. Entering Tuesday’s matchup, they shared the fourth-best batting average in MLB at .249 and generated 15 hits. They quickly put pressure on Cubs left-handed pitcher Jordan Wicks.
Wicks, who was summoned by Chicago from Triple-A Iowa just Sunday, conceded five scores almost immediately. A problematic opening inning commenced with him granting a four-pitch base on balls to Pirates newcomer Konnor Griffin, making him the youngest athlete to bat first for the organization since Bobby Del Greco in 1952.
Griffin marks the youngest leadoff batter in MLB since Jackson Chourio held that position for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. Chourio was 20 years and 32 days old at that point, precisely the same age as Griffin on Tuesday, according to information from MLB.com’s Sarah Langs. Griffin recorded one hit in four at-bats and scored twice. He hit a single to left field in the sixth inning, subsequently scoring due to an errant throw by Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman.
Esmerlyn Valdez, also a rookie, contributed a team-best three runs batted in for the Pirates. He connected for a two-run home run to conclude the first-inning offensive outburst. However, he was not one of the five Pittsburgh players who achieved two or more hits; Oneil Cruz was at the forefront with three.
The hierarchy within the NL Central division continues its fluctuation this season. Currently, the Brewers occupy the leading position, while the Cubs are situated at the bottom, following an inexplicable decline throughout May.
