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The Chicago Cubs had a rubber-match showdown with Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Thursday afternoon, and it was set up to be a hard-fought battle.

Skenes, one of MLB’s best pitchers, against the Cubs, one of MLB’s best offenses.

The Cubs won that matchup, 8-3, at PNC Park behind a quality start from Colin Rea to claim their seventh series of the season.

Chicago’s offense continued to do what it does best, slugging four home runs, including two from Seiya Suzuki, who now has nine this season.

Here are three takeaways as the Cubs (19-13) departed Pittsburgh with another win over the Pirates (12-20).

The Skenes scheme

Most MLB hitters struggle against Skenes, whose 1.96 ERA since his debut on May 11, 2024 is the best among qualified starters over that time period.

Skenes made quick work of the Cubs in his four 2024 starts against them, striking out 30 over just 20 innings pitched. Nico Hoerner had success against the NL Rookie of the Year, though, knocking two hits, including a homer.

[MORE: Watch Pirates ace Paul Skenes allow three homers in an inning to Cubs]

On Thursday, Ian Happ immediately jumped on Skenes, ripping the right-hander’s first-pitch fastball for a 101.2-mph single. The Cubs’ patient approach forced an uncharacteristic day for Skenes — he issued four walks to Cubs hitters, doubling his total on the season.

The Cubs then turned the game on its heels in the fifth inning, as Dansby Swanson, Kyle Tucker and Suzuki took Skenes deep for a 3-2 lead. Those three homers are the most Skenes has ever given up in a start, and it’s just the second time a team has hit multiple homers against him in an outing.

Skenes was replaced after that frame, ending his day with only two strikeouts — his fewest ever in a big-league start.

Marquee Sports Network player development analyst Lance Brozdowski broke down how the team could get to Skenes on the “Cubs Daily Podcast,” and that game plan certainly played out in Chicago’s favor.

No swan song here 

Swanson was hitting .181 with a .577 OPS entering the series in Pittsburgh. Cubs manager Craig Counsell then made a lineup change Monday, dropping the shortstop to eighth in the order from his usual No. 5 spot.

It immediately paid off.

Swanson had another multi-hit game Thursday, including the solo homer off Skenes to put the Cubs on the board in the fifth. He went 6-for-11 in the series (.545) with two homers and 12 total bases.

Swanson is slashing .213/.263/.409 (.672 OPS) for the season after his breakout in Pittsburgh. It is no question that the Cubs need Swanson’s offensive production, and the move to the eight-hole might have helped jump-start his season.

Rea of sunshine (on a cloudy day)

Rea continues to deal for the Cubs since replacing an injured Justin Steele in their rotation. 

The veteran right-hander won the pitcher’s duel over Skenes and posted his first quality start of the season. Rea allowed two earned runs on four hits in six innings, striking out two and walking two.

Rea struggled early, allowing a solo homer to Bryan Reynolds in the first inning and a sharp RBI double to Oneil Cruz in the second. After that, Rea settled in with two 1-2-3 innings and worked around a single in the sixth to finish off a very solid day.

Rea now owns a 1.86 ERA in his four starts this season.

The Cubs will continue NL Central play with a three-game set in Milwaukee beginning Friday at 7:10 p.m CT. Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon and Shota Imanaga are each scheduled to take the mound in the series against the Brewers.