Chicago Cubs Shut Out Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 as Taillon Dominates, Busch and Crow-Armstrong Homer on September 15, 2025

Monday, September 15th, 2025

Chicago Cubs Defeat Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 to Move Closer to Postseason Berth

The Chicago Cubs powered past the Pittsburgh Pirates with a decisive 4-0 victory, bringing them one step closer to clinching a postseason spot. Key performances on the mound and at the plate propelled the Cubs to another crucial win as the regular season nears its end.

Cubs Gain Ground in Wild Card Race

With the win, Chicago (86-64) extended their lead for the top National League wild card spot to four games over San Diego. They now trail NL Central leaders Milwaukee by five games, with just 12 games left on the schedule. The Cubs have now won five of their last six games, while the Pirates suffered their ninth defeat in the last 10 contests.

Dominant Pitching by Jameson Taillon

Jameson Taillon delivered an outstanding performance for the Cubs, allowing only two hits over six innings. He struck out three and walked two, retiring 15 of 16 batters in a stretch from the first through the sixth inning. Since returning from a strained left groin on August 18, Taillon has improved to 3-0 with a stellar 1.61 ERA.

Cubs Bullpen Preserves the Shutout

Relievers Michael Soroka, Porter Hodge, and Brad Keller combined to finish the three-hitter, marking the Cubs' 14th shutout of the season. Keller secured the final out with the bases loaded to earn his second save of the year.

Offensive Contributions Lead the Way

Michael Busch initiated the scoring with his 28th home run in the second inning. Nico Hoerner followed by scoring on a wild pitch later in the frame. Braxton Ashcraft, starting for Pittsburgh, allowed three runs and six hits over four innings. In the fourth, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson notched consecutive doubles, and Crow-Armstrong added his 29th home run in the sixth against reliever Cam Sanders.

Key Moment

Brad Keller entered the game with the bases loaded in the late innings and struck out Jared Triolo, preserving the Cubs' shutout.

Key Stat

The Cubs improved to 13-9 through a demanding 24-game stretch against teams with losing records.

Looking Ahead

In the next matchup, Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton (10-4, 2.70 ERA) will face Pirates ace Paul Skenes (10-9, 1.92 ERA), who currently leads the majors in ERA.

In summary

The Chicago Cubs continued their strong September with a 4-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighted by commanding pitching from Jameson Taillon and home runs from Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong. The combination of strong offense and dominant pitching brought Chicago closer to a postseason spot, extending their NL wild card lead. As they enter the final games of the regular season, the Cubs aim to maintain their momentum and secure their playoff position.

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