• The Chicago Cubs are set to face the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series starting on Friday, May 12th. The Cubs are coming off a series win against the Colorado Rockies, while the Pirates have struggled recently, losing four of their last five games. The Cubs will look to continue their recent success and gain ground in the NL Central division standings.

• The pitching matchups for the series are expected to be Marcus Stroman for the Cubs against Mitch Keller on Friday, Drew Smyly against Johan Oviedo on Saturday, and Kyle Hendricks against Roansy Contreras on Sunday. The Cubs' pitching staff has been a strength so far this season, and they'll hope to continue that trend against the Pirates' lineup.

• The series presents an opportunity for the Cubs to build on their recent momentum and potentially gain ground in the division race. The Pirates have had a difficult start to the season, and the Cubs will aim to take advantage of their struggles. Key players to watch for the Cubs include Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, and Dansby Swanson, who have all contributed significantly to the team's success so far.