Pirates vs. Cubs - 9/2/2021

Pittsburgh Pirates (48-85) vs. Chicago Cubs (59-75), Sept. 2, 2021 @ 8:05 p.m.

Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago

TV: AT&T Sports Pittsburgh

Radio: 93.7 The Fan

Cubs SB Nation Site: bleedcubbieblue.com

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Projected Starters

Pirates: Mitch Keller – RHP – (4-10) — 6.75 ERA — 68 total Ks

Cubs: Keegan Thompson – RHP – (3-3) – 3.09 ERA – 45 total Ks

Probable Starting Lineups (subject to change)

Pirates

1. Cole Tucker — SS

2. Ben Gamel — RF

3. Bryan Reynolds — CF

4. Colin Moran – 1B

5. Jacob Stallings — C

6. Wilmer Difo – 2B

7. Anthony Alford — LF

8. Phillip Evans – 3B

9. Mitch Keller — P

Cubs

1. Rafael Ortega — CF

2. Frank Schwindel — 1B

3. Ian Happ – LF

4. Patrick Wisdom – 3B

5. Matt Duffy – 3B

6. Jason Heyward — RF

7. Robinson Chirinos — C

8. Sergio Alcantara — SS

9. Keegan Thompson — P

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The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to earn their first win on their current visit to the Windy City when they battle the Chicago Cubs in an 8:05 p.m. start at Wrigley Field.

So far, the trip to Chicago has been less than successful, as they dropped a pair of games to the White Sox. 4-2 and 6-3.

This will be a different look for the Cubs, who rid themselves of longtime stars Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez prior to the trade deadline. Tonight’s starting lineup is practically unrecognizable to the average fan.

Frank Schwindel is starting at first base and Sergio Alcantara is the starting shortstop. Schwindel is hitting .340 in 108 plate appearances since Aug. 1 with a 1.039 OPS. He has seven homers and 21 RBIs during that stretch. Alcanta, meanwhile, is hitting .176 in 59 plate appearances since Aug. 1.

Speaking of shortstop, perennial Pirates prospect Cole Tucker will get the start tonight.

He and the rest of the Bucs will face Keegan Thompson, who is 3-3 with a 3.09 ERA. He’ll face Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller, who will look to improve on a 4-10 mark and a 6.75 ERA.