Let's Road Trip Cubs 2025: Trip #4 - The NL Central Gauntlet

Pittsburgh Pirates – April 29-May 1
PNC Park - Capacity 38,747
2024 Attendance: 1,720,361 (Averaged 21,239 - ranked 14th out of 15 NL teams, 25th overall MLB)

Chicago swept their way into and out of Pittsburgh in August of 2024 after claiming two of three at PNC Park in May for a 5-1 mark overall.  The Cubs have trekked to Pittsburgh's PNC Park for 203 games since it opened in 2001. and they've won more often than they've lost, going 112-91 against their NL Central rivals. This includes going 22-10 near the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers' convergence since Covid allowed fans back in the ballpark.

The 2024 Pirates squad stayed in the mix for most of the season but faltered down the stretch. With stud pitching prospect Paul Skenes making his MLB debut, the 2025 squad seeks to transition from overperforming youth to tested veterans. The infield duo of Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz looks to take the next step, and Pirates fans began to show their appreciation for a team on the rise.

PNC Park consistently makes the Top 10 lists for its scenic beauty and baseball viewing sightlines. When it opened in 2001, its city-centered orientation and river views awed baseball fans (while the product on the field left something to be desired). Now that the team has a squad to match the view, attendance should continue to climb. Visiting fans will find hospitable hosts, but Twins fans shouldn’t expect too much success at the end of such a grueling road trip. Hopefully, a few “raised Jolly Rogers” won’t pirate the Cubs’ playoff hopes for the season.

Pittsburgh has plenty to offer a baseball tourist, from its downtown atmosphere of food and entertainment to the Andy Warhol and Roberto Clemente Museums. It might be on the chilly side in early Spring, but it is the perfect time of year to walk about the city and take in the unique landscape. The Cubs journey back across the Great Lakes to a battle in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee Brewers – May 2-4
American Family Field - Capacity 41,900
2024 Attendance: 2,537,202 (Averaged 21,328 - ranked 9th out of 15 NL teams, 16th overall MLB)

The Cubs lost the NL Central by 10 games to the rival Brewers in 2024, and five of those games were conceded on the road at American Family Park. Chicago went 2-5 in their cross-border battles in Milwaukee.  Overall, the Cubs have held their own in the I-94 rivalry, winning 97 games and losing 106 in Milwaukee since the "new" stadium opened in 2001. Recent history hasn't been so kind, with the Cubs losing every road series for the year since 2017, except for the two-game sweep they achieved in the fan-less 2020 season. With Brewers fans in the seats, it's been eight years since Chicago gained ground on Milwaukee in the standings in the enemy's lair.

American Family Field began as Miller Park in 2001. 2020 brought new cash inflow and a new name. This retractable-roof complex looks like a combination of an airplane hangar, a Metrodome, and an advertisement convention. And yet, when the Brewers got it going on, the place also brings out an energy that can deliver electric baseball.

The Brewers isn’t just a fun name; it’s a destination reality. Local and global-level breweries make this city a beer connoisseur's playground. The Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Lake Michigan coastline provide alternative travel stops for a variety of tastes. Once inside the ballpark, the immortal “sausage race” has gone digital, but the spirit remains. Bud Selig and Bob Uecker have statues and museums, and this season will carry a special meaning after Uecker's passing.

Following this week-long road trip, the Cubs return home for a three-game series against San Francisco. It's a whirlwind trip where games count double. How far up the standings will the Cubs be sitting by the time San Fran comes to town? Or will the Pirates and Brewers take advantage of these early home opportunities?