The Cubs, meanwhile, are dealing with a bullpen that's basically been gutted. Daniel Palencia, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Ethan Roberts, Riley Martin, Ben Brown and Hoby Milner are all out in some form, which is an absurd number of relievers to be missing at once. Chicago's still 12 games over .500, but that path to the pen late in games looks thinner than it has all year, and it showed when Detroit took 2 of 3 from them at Wrigley just before this trip.
Pittsburgh isn't fully healthy either. Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin are both out long-term, and Endy Rodriguez and Spencer Horwitz are working their way back from the injured list. But the Pirates are reportedly leaning into buyer mode ahead of the trade deadline for the first time in years, chasing bullpen help and rotation depth — a sign the front office thinks this wild card push is worth pushing chips in on.
Imanaga has historically given Pittsburgh trouble, and if he's locating like he did against the Twins, this could be a low-scoring pitcher's duel early before both bullpens get tested. That's the version of this game neither team wants given how shaky each pen is right now.