Cubs face Giants at Oracle Park amid persistent series-opening struggles
Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong continues hot streak as Chicago looks to reverse poor record in Bay Area
The Chicago Cubs arrive at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday, 12 June 2026, to open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. The contest is scheduled for 9:15 CT (7:15 PT), with Pride Night celebrations set to begin at 7:15 p.m. PT.
Chicago enters the series with a notable pattern of early-season difficulties, having lost the first game in each of their last seven series and eight of their last nine. Since securing the final game of a 10-game streak at Texas on 8 May, the Cubs have recorded only one first-game victory, a win against the White Sox on 15 May.
Historical data suggests a challenging environment for the visitors. The Cubs have gone 1-6 at San Francisco over the past two years, with their lone win coming in 2024. Furthermore, they have lost the first game in six of their last seven visits to the Bay Area, with their only first-game victory in the region occurring in 2023.
Despite the team's struggles, outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is in strong form. He is currently on a 15-game on-base streak, batting .359/.423/.688 with 23 hits in 64 at-bats. His performance over this span includes four doubles, a triple, five home runs, nine RBIs, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases.
Pitching matchups present a contrast in recent form. Javier Assad provided six and one-third innings of one-hit relief against the Giants last Sunday, retiring the final 15 batters he faced. On the opposing side, Landen Roupp allowed three hits and one run over 5.1 innings against the Cubs at Wrigley Field last Saturday, though he was hit hard in his previous start against the Brewers on 1 June.
The game will be broadcast live on Marquee Sports Network. The Cubs are 3-8 on the road this season but hold a 3-3 record in first games on the road after winning the final game of their previous series.
