Where this gets complicated for Chicago is everywhere else on the pitching staff. The Cubs' injury list reads like a bullpen depth chart in itself — Phil Maton, Shelby Miller, Hunter Harvey, Ben Brown, Ethan Roberts, Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner are all out, and Trent Thornton just got drilled by a comebacker. Craig Counsell has been piecing together relief innings all month, and it showed in Wednesday's 1-5 loss to Detroit that closed out a split series at Wrigley.
- Day-To-DayTrent Thornton (RP) — Thornton was removed from Monday's game against the Tigers after being struck on the left foot by a comebacker, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.07/21
- 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — Shaw is still feeling discomfort related to his left hand sprain and has yet to resume swinging a bat, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.07/18
- 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — The Cubs placed Maton on the 15-day injured list Monday with right knee tendinitis, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.07/20
- 15-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.07/20
- 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — Roberts (forearm) tossed a perfect inning in a rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Iowa.07/20
- 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Palencia (elbow) is hopeful to return to the Cubs' bullpen in mid-August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.07/18
- 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that the Cubs expect Cabrera (hamstring) to return from the injured list in the second week of August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.07/18
- 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Milner (abdomen) will likely return from the injured list sometime around Aug. 1, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.07/18
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — The Cubs announced June 10 that Martin (elbow) has resumed playing catch, MLB.com reports.06/22
- 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs announced July 5 that Miller (elbow) has resumed a throwing program in Arizona, MLB.com reports.07/20
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell said July 8 that Harvey (triceps/shoulder) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, but the right-hander remains without a clear timeline for a return from the 60-day injured list, MLB.com reports.07/20
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) was cleared to begin ramping up his throwing program Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.07/08
- 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayJake Mangum (CF) — Mangum was scratched for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Yankees due to right foot discomfort.07/22
- 10-Day-ILSpencer Horwitz (1B) — Horwitz (hamstring) will begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.07/21
- 10-Day-ILEndy Rodriguez (C) — Rodriguez (hip) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus Atlanta.07/08
- 15-Day-ILEvan Sisk (RP) — Sisk was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.07/04
- 60-Day-ILChris Devenski (RP) — Devenski (illness) was sent to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment.07/21
- 60-Day-ILOneil Cruz (CF) — The Pirates transferred Cruz (hand) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/18
- 60-Day-ILKonnor Griffin (SS) — The Pirates transferred Griffin (finger) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.07/11
Pittsburgh isn't exactly whole either. Oneil Cruz and Konnor Griffin are both out for the year on the 60-day IL, Endy Rodriguez is nursing a hip issue, and Jake Mangum got scratched from Wednesday's doubleheader with foot discomfort. But the lineup that's still standing has found some thump — the Pirates have hit 15 home runs over their last 10 games and are slugging .448 in that span, a real jump for a team that's leaned on pitching and defense for most of the year.
The Cubs counter with their own recent power binge, an 11-2 blowout of Detroit among the highlights, and they're slugging .422 with 33 extra-base hits over their own last 10. Both offenses have shown they can put crooked numbers on the board in a hurry, which sets up an interesting contrast against two starters who've both been trending the right direction.
First pitch at PNC Park is set for 6:40 PM ET, with Chicago holding a 4-game edge in the standings and looking to avoid a series that slips away the way the Detroit set did. Jones' emergence gives Pittsburgh a puncher's chance to flip the script, but the Cubs have the deeper lineup and, on paper, the healthier version of their starter walking to the mound.