Full Breakdown
Cubs’ Nine-Game Losing Streak Continues with 2-1 Loss to Pirates
5/27/2026, 12:59:04 AM
Historical Context
Earlier in the season the Cubs posted two 10-game winning streaks. The Elias Sports Bureau notes only the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers share the combination of multiple double-digit winning streaks and a nine-game losing streak. Similar patterns appeared in 1970 (11-game win, 12-game loss) and 1985 (13-game loss after a 35-19 start). The 2022 club also endured a ten-game skid.
Key Players & Statistics
Manager Craig Counsell said the team must improve batting and pitching. Ben Brown’s six-inning, one-run effort lowered his ERA to 2.01 but did not earn a win. Michael Busch hit his sixth homer of the year. Henry Davis supplied the decisive 413-427-foot solo shot. Pirates relievers Wilber Dotel and Gregory Soto closed the game. The Cubs sit at 29-25, have scored two runs or fewer in nine of their last 15 games, and are 0-2 with runners in scoring position in the loss.
Official Statements & Responses
Counsell emphasized the need for better execution. Brown noted that individual outings have not translated into victories. Pirates manager Don Kelly praised Davis’s power but said his overall production remains limited.
Criticism & Opposition
The Cubs managed five hits, went 0-2 with runners in scoring position, and produced only one run. Pinch-hitting (Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly) failed. The bullpen’s inability to hold leads, shown by Thornton’s surrender, drew criticism. Injuries to several starters have strained the rotation.
On-the-Ground Perspectives
Busch called the stretch “pretty challenging” and hard to see bright spots. Davis said the month has been his best but remains frustrated with limited results.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources list Davis’s homer distance as 427 ft or 413 ft and exit velocity as 91 mph or 103.1 mph. Precise figures are unverified. Cubs run totals for the prior six games differ among reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We got to play better,” — Craig Counsell, Cubs manager
- “He’s got the power to go anywhere, honestly, just the way he’s able to drive a baseball,” — Don Kelly, Pirates manager
- “It’s been a pretty challenging stretch, and it’s hard to see the bright spots right now,” — Michael Busch, Cubs outfielder
- “We're just not winning baseball games.” — Ben Brown, Cubs pitcher
What’s Next
Jordan Wicks will start Tuesday versus Pittsburgh, aiming to stop the skid. He holds a 1-0 record with a 1.80 ERA against the Pirates. The result will affect Chicago’s NL Central standing and its chance to avoid a historic 10-game losing streak.
