Series Preview: Cubs at Pirates

Losers of three in a row, the Pirates (61-60) return home to face first-place Cubs team (69-50) that, at nine games back, they’re not really chasing in the NL Central race as much as trying to remain relevant versus others in the Wild Card.

The Cubs are 8-5 in August, coming off a split of two games with the Brewers at Wrigley Field this week. Chicago split two games in Pittsburgh a little more than two weeks ago.

The Cubs are scheduled to send four left-handed starting pitchers against the Pirates this weekend. Perhaps the Pirates will have Jose Osuna on standby, or, if a disabled list stint is needed for Jordy Mercer, Jordan Luplow, who was just optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.

Season Series: 6-5 Cubs

At Chicago

April 10: Pirates 8, Cubs 5

April 11: Cubs 13, Pirates 5

April 12: Pirates 6, Cubs 1

At Pittsburgh

May 28: Cubs 7, Pirates 0

May 29: Cubs 8, Pirates 6

May 30: Pirates 2, Cubs 1

At Chicago

June 8: Cubs 3, Pirates 1

June 9: Cubs 2, Pirates 0

June 10: Pirates 7, Cubs 1

At Pittsburgh

July 31: Pirates 5, Cubs 4

August 1: Cubs 9, Pirates 2

Schedule

Thursday, 7:05 p.m. — Jon Lester (12-5, 3.89 ERA) vs. Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.42); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Friday, 7:05 p.m. — Cole Hamels (7-9, 4.22) vs. Trevor Williams (10-8, 3.66); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Saturday, 7:05 p.m. — Mike Montgomery (4-4, 3.62) vs. Joe Musgrove (4-7, 3.49); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 1:35 p.m. — Jose Quintana (10-9, 4.46) vs. Jameson Taillon (9-9, 3.66); TV: AT&T SportsNet

Things You Can Read

• Cole Hamels has been excellent since his trade from Texas.
• The rest of the rotation is rather questionable.
• David Bote had an incredibly cool moment, you might have seen.
• Ben Zobrist made his first career ejection count, going all #robotumpsnow.
• The Cubs acquired speedster Terrance Gore from the Royals.

A Thing You Can Buy

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