Pirates vs. Cubs - 9/30/2021

Chicago Cubs (68-90) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (59-99), Sept. 30, 2021 @ 6:35 p.m.

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh

TV: AT&T Sports Pittsburgh

Radio: 93.7 The Fan

Cubs SB Nation Site: Bleed Cubbie Blue

Projected Starters

Cubs: Justin Steele (3-4, 4.86 ERA)

Pirates: Miguel Yajure (0-1, 4.85 ERA)

Probable Starting Lineups (subject to change)

Cubs

1. Rafael Ortega — CF
2. Frank Schwindel — 1B
3. Ian Happ — LF
4. Willson Contreras — C
5. Matt Duffy – 3B
6. Nick Martini — RF
7. David Bote – 2B
8. Sergio Alcantara — SS
9. Justin Steele — P

Pirates

1. Michael Chavis — 3B
2. Yoshi Tsutsugo — RF
3. Bryan Reynolds — CF
4. Colin Moran — 1B
5. Jacob Stallings — C
6. Anthony Alford — LF
7. Cole Tucker — 2B
8. Kevin Newman — SS
9. Miguel Yajure — P

With a win tonight, the Pittsburgh Pirates will have won their fourth straight home series. With a loss, they will have tallied their 100th loss of the year. The implications are enormous, I know.

Miguel Yajure will make his third start this season with the Pirates. Over 13 innings pitched in the bigs, Yajure has allowed seven earned runs. He has struck out 10 and walked five. Although his fastball has looked underwhelming at times, his offspeed pitches have looked sharp. In his last outing, Yajure allowed three earned runs over 3.2 innings pitched out of the bullpen. Tonight will be his final start of the season.

For the Cubs, Justin Steele gets the nod. In one appearance against the Pirates this season, Steele pitched two scoreless out of the bullpen. In general, Steele has had more success out of the bullpen (2.03 ERA over 13.1 IP) than as a starter (5.89 ERA over 36.2 IP).

Let’s go Bucs!