3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ 4-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, including Jake Arrieta grinding his way to a quality start and Kris Bryant finding his power stroke

If the Chicago Cubs are going to reach the postseason, taking advantage of the worst teams in the league will need to be part of the equation.

The rebuilding Pittsburgh Pirates qualify. After the Cubs offense often was dormant during the final two games of a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, starting in Pittsburgh for their first trip of the season represented a good way to get back on track.

Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel entered the game with the bases loaded and only one out in the eighth inning, getting two strikeouts to avert damage. He closed out the Pirates in the ninth to secure a 4-2 win for his 350th career save.

Here are three takeaways from the victory.

1. Jake Arrieta had to grind without his best stuff but still found a way to deliver a quality start.

Sometimes a pitcher has to find a way to make it work even when his stuff is off. Arrieta experienced that predicament Thursday against the Pirates (1-6). The right-hander endured stretches in which he struggled to command pitches. Arrieta needed 27 pitches to get through the second inning despite retiring the first two Pirates he faced. He wasn’t throwing his curveball and sinker for strikes, resulting in three consecutive hitters reaching on a double and back-to-back walks.

Arrieta survived the second without allowing a run and went on to pitch six innings. He was victimized by weak contact in the fourth inning when he surrendered the two runs he allowed in the victory. Both singles founds spots against the defense — neither had an exit velocity higher than 68 mph — while Gregory Polanco’s bloop single had a .090 expected batting average.

“It was a battle from from the get-go,” Arrieta said. "I just had to mix it up, find a way to control the lineup, and I did that pretty well.”

Arrieta’s experience comes into play during these types of starts. He gave manager David Ross the innings the Cubs needed and kept them in the game in the process. Arrieta has learned over the years how to grind through starts even with inconsistent stuff — a valuable asset.

“You have conviction, you throw everything with aggressiveness and you expect to make a pitch when you need to,” Arrieta said. “And that’s what the best do. That’s what I was able to do. Didn’t have a few pitches throughout the game, but I was able to find them in big situations when I needed them.”

2. Kris Bryant’s approach is rewarded with power production.

As the Cubs offense has sputtered at times through the first week of the season, third baseman Kris Bryant has been their most complete hitter.

With another double and home run Thursday, Bryant leads the Cubs with three doubles and two home runs. His four walks also are tied for second in the team behind Ian Happ’s five. Bryant has looked locked in, coming off a dismal season marred by injury and poor performance. In 34 games (147 plate appearances) last year, Bryant finished with only five doubles, four home runs and 12 walks with a .206 average and .293 on-base percentage.

At this rate, Bryant will surpass his extra-base hits total from 2020 by the end of April. Bryant slugged a solo home run off Pirates left-hander Tyler Anderson in the first inning to give the Cubs an early — and much-needed — lead Thursday.

With home runs also coming off the bats of Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez, the latter giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead in the sixth, the throwback vibe was strong and gave Arrieta the offense he needed.

“We looked really good today offensively, and it’s nice to get the big boys going,” Ross said. “When they have a good day, we’ve got a really good offense and a good chance to win.”

3. The bullpen is an early-season strength.

Plenty of questions surrounded the Cubs bullpen entering the season, and so far, it has answered the call.

After three more scoreless innings Thursday, the bullpen’s 2.70 ERA is seventh-best in the majors and fourth in the National League. Left-hander Rex Brothers stuck out three of the four Pirates he faced. A reliable Brothers will help Ross stay away from the only other left-hander in the bullpen, Andrew Chafin, who has struck out eight hitters and walked only one in 3⅔ innings. Right-hander Dan Winkler put the Cubs in a tough spot by walking three consecutive Pirates with one out in the eighth inning.

But having Kimbrel in his old form gives Ross a shutdown option in those tough spots, something the manager didn’t have early last season when the veteran closer was out of whack with his mechanics. Having a closer of Kimbrel’s stature and experience makes the entire bullpen stronger. The other relievers have been a bright spot, too, collectively stepping up.

“It’s something that’s going to be important in the way we use those guys and keep them fresh,” Ross said. “It’s nice for the off day tomorrow, let those guys regroup. ... There’s a group down there (in the bullpen) that it’s nice to see them come in and get big outs, make good pitches in big moments, and it’s nice to have that guy on the back end to anchor that group, that’s for sure.”