Upon Review

The evidence holds.

MLB

September 11, 2026 · Wrigley Field

Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs Game Analysis — September 11, 2026

Team123456789RHE
PIT100001000271
CHC03240210—12160

Scoring path

Follow the scoring sequence from the first run to the final margin.

PITScoreCHC
  1. 1
    Supports the analysis

    Cruz singled to left, Griffin scored.

    1–0
  2. 2
    1–1
    Supports the analysis

    Conforto hit sacrifice fly to left, Bregman scored.

  3. 1–3
    Supports the analysis

    Kelly doubled to left, Happ scored and Ramirez scored.

  4. 3
    1–4
    Supports the analysis

    Busch doubled to right, Suzuki scored on error, Busch safe at third on throwing error by right fielder Valdez.

  5. 1–5

    Hoerner hit into fielder's choice to right, Busch scored, Happ out at second.

  6. 4
    1–6
    Supports the analysis

    Suzuki singled to right, Kelly scored, Crow-Armstrong to third.

  7. 1–7
    Supports the analysis

    Busch hit sacrifice fly to shortstop, Crow-Armstrong scored.

  8. 1–9
    Supports the analysis

    Bregman homered to left (371 feet), Suzuki scored.

  9. 6
    Supports the analysis

    Reynolds homered to left (364 feet).

    2–9
  10. 2–10
    Supports the analysis

    Busch singled to center, Suzuki scored.

  11. 2–11

    Taylor hit sacrifice fly to right, Busch scored.

  12. 7
    2–12
    Supports the analysis

    Crow-Armstrong singled to right, Ramirez scored, Kelly to second.

Key observations by inning

Read the plays and performances in chronological order, or filter the view by team.

  1. ▲ 1

    Scoring Sequence

    Konnor Griffin · Oneil Cruz · Shota Imanaga

    Pittsburgh took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Konnor Griffin tripled to center and scored on Oneil Cruz's single off Shota Imanaga.

  2. 1–6

    Starting Pitching

    Shota Imanaga

    Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga earned the win by pitching 6.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four on 100 pitches.

    pitches
    100
    innings appeared
    1–6
  3. 1–6

    Pitch Usage And Execution

    Shota Imanaga

    Imanaga deployed his splitter on 45 of his 100 pitches (45%), inducing seven whiffs and 13 out-of-zone chases across 29 swings to establish a recurring swing-and-miss constraint against Pittsburgh hitters.

    pitches
    100
    innings appeared
    1–6

    Chicago Cubs pitcher deployment

    Observed pitching-staff sequence by inning (4 pitchers, 3 subsequent).

    Observed pitching-staff sequence by inning (4 pitchers, 3 subsequent).

    Observed pitching-staff sequence by inning (4 pitchers, 3 subsequent).
  4. 1–7 · linked

    Offensive Performance

    Seiya Suzuki

    Seiya Suzuki went 3-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, and three runs scored, tallying five total bases across five plate appearances.

  5. 1–7 · linked

    Offensive Performance

    Michael Busch

    Michael Busch drove in three runs and scored twice, batting 2-for-4 with a double, a single, and a sacrifice fly.

  6. 1–9

    Full Game

    Full Game

    The Chicago Cubs defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-2, generating 12 runs on 16 hits while holding Pittsburgh to two runs on seven hits.

  7. 2–6 · linked

    Offensive Performance

    Alex Bregman

    Alex Bregman reached base three times in four at-bats, hitting a double and a two-run home run while recording two RBIs and two runs scored.

  8. 2–7 · linked

    Player Influence

    Carson Kelly

    Carson Kelly reached base three times in four plate appearances, going 2-for-3 with a double, a hit-by-pitch, two RBIs, and a run scored.

  9. ▼ 2

    Scoring Sequence

    Michael Conforto · Carson Kelly · Wilber Dotel

    Chicago took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning on Michael Conforto's sacrifice fly and Carson Kelly's two-run double off Wilber Dotel.

  10. 3–5

    Bullpen Usage

    Khristian Curtis

    Khristian Curtis pitched three innings in relief for Pittsburgh, conceding six earned runs on six hits and two walks while throwing 62 pitches.

    pitches
    62
    innings appeared
    3–5
  11. ▲4–▼4

    Scoring Sequence

    Khristian Curtis · Alex Bregman · Michael Busch · Seiya Suzuki · Carson Kelly · Pete Crow-Armstrong

    In the fourth inning, Chicago leveraged early baserunners via a hit-by-pitch and a walk into a four-run rally, punctuated by Michael Busch's sacrifice fly and Alex Bregman's two-run home run off Khristian Curtis to push the lead to 9-1.

    Khristian Curtis pitch selection by count

    Observed pitch-type mix across 4 count groups (62 valid pitches).

    Observed pitch-type mix across 4 count groups (62 valid pitches).

    Observed pitch-type mix across 4 count groups (62 valid pitches).
  12. ▲ 6

    Scoring Sequence

    Bryan Reynolds · Shota Imanaga

    Bryan Reynolds hit a solo home run to left field off Shota Imanaga in the top of the sixth inning for Pittsburgh's second run.

  13. 6–8

    Bullpen Usage

    Antwone Kelly

    Antwone Kelly worked three innings in relief for the Pirates, allowing three earned runs on six hits with one strikeout over 45 pitches.

    pitches
    45
    innings appeared
    6–8
  14. ▼ 7

    Scoring Sequence

    Pete Crow-Armstrong · Pedro Ramirez · Antwone Kelly

    Pete Crow-Armstrong singled to right in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Pedro Ramirez, extending Chicago's lead to 12-2.

What this game can—and can’t tell us

PITCHCShared

See what the reviewed evidence supports—and where its limits are.

  • Imanaga's splitter set the afternoon's terms

    Medium

    Imanaga relied heavily on his splitter across 45 pitches to generate out-of-zone chases and swinging strikes.

    Evidence

    • Shota Imanaga · Splitter · 45% usage
    • Shota Imanaga · 100 pitches · innings 1–6
    • Shota Imanaga · 6 IP · 5 H · 2 ER · 4 K · 2 BB · 100 pitches · W

    Not implied

    • Does not prove pre-planned pitch tunneling or private pitching coach instructions.
    • Does not prove that Pittsburgh hitters had a pre-existing scouting vulnerability to the splitter.

    Limitations

    • Pitch-type tracking does not establish private pre-game scouting plans or catcher calling intent.
    Shota ImanagaPittsburgh Pirates

  • Two free runners turned the fourth inning into the game

    Medium

    The Cubs converted early baserunners in the fourth inning into four runs against Khristian Curtis to expand their lead to 9-1.

    Evidence

    • Score after inning 4: 0–4

    Bottom 4th

    • Suzuki singled to right, Kelly scored, Crow-Armstrong to third.
    • Busch hit sacrifice fly to shortstop, Crow-Armstrong scored.
    • Bregman homered to left (371 feet), Suzuki scored.

    Bottom 4

    • Carson Kelly vs Khristian Curtis
    • Pete Crow-Armstrong vs Khristian Curtis
    • Seiya Suzuki vs Khristian Curtis
    • Michael Busch vs Khristian Curtis
    • Alex Bregman vs Khristian Curtis
    • Base/out transitions · Bottom 4

    Not implied

    • Does not prove managerial bullpen miscalculation or pitcher pitch-tipping.

    Limitations

    • Does not prove pitcher fatigue or mechanical degradation beyond recorded pitch events.
    Chicago CubsKhristian CurtisAlex BregmanMichael BuschSeiya SuzukiCarson KellyPete Crow-Armstrong

  • Bregman kept showing up where the damage lived

    High

    Alex Bregman produced three hits, including a double and a home run, scoring twice and driving in two runs.

    Evidence

    • Alex Bregman · 3-for-4 · 1 HR

    Bottom 2

    • Alex Bregman vs Wilber Dotel

    Bottom 3

    • Alex Bregman vs Khristian Curtis

    Bottom 6

    • Alex Bregman vs Antwone Kelly

    Bottom 4th

    • Bregman homered to left (371 feet), Suzuki scored.

    Not implied

    • Does not establish long-term offensive trends or broader lineup-wide run expectancy.
    Alex BregmanChicago Cubs