Game Thread: Bucs look to score against Cubs’ Chatwood

After dropping consecutive 1-0 contests to the Cubs, which extended Pittsburgh’s scoreless streak to 25 innings and their winless streak to 5 games, the Pirates hope to be able to touch home as they face Tyler Chatwood (4-5, 5.06) in a 7:05 pm start at PNC Park. Joe Musgrove (4-7, 3.49) takes the hill for the home squad.

Chatwood, with 90 walks in 99 ²⁄₃ innings, would conjure up images of Steve Blass struggling to find home plate, but has somehow managed to pitch fairly competitive baseball with an ERA barely over 5 in 19 starts, with the Cubs winning 11 of those games. Inserted back into the rotation when Mike Montgomery was placed on the Disabled List yesterday, it will be his first start since July 26, having made three relief appearances in the last 23 days. Chatwood has a 93.5 mph fastball, and throws his four and two seamers a combined 69% of the time, followed by a curve (11%) and cutter (11%)

Musgrove has been pitching in bad luck lately, having dropped his last three starts while allowing a total of 5 runs in 20 innings, by scores of 0-1, 0-2 and 3-4.

With the exception of Adam Frazier filling in for Josh Harrison at second base and batting sixth, and Colin Moran starting at third base against a right-hander, the rest of the Pirates’ lineup remains the same as it has been during their scoring drought, which has seen them score four runs or fewer in each of their last six games.

Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon, as is his norm, pulls his lineup out of a hat.

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CUBS

1 S Ben Zobrist RF

2 L Jason Heyward CF

3 R David Bote 3B

4 L Anthony Rizzo 1B

5 R Javier Baez 2B

6 L Kyle Schwarber LF

7 R Willson Contreras C

8 R Tyler Chatwood RHP

9 R Addison Russell SS

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PIRATES

1 L Corey Dickerson LF

2 R Starling Marte CF

3 L Gregory Polanco RF

4 S Josh Bell 1B

5 R Francisco Cervelli C

6 L Adam Frazier 2B

7 L Colin Moran 3B

8 R Adeinis Hechevarria SS

9 R Joe Musgrove RHP