This month has not been kind to the Cubs.
They have won only one series all month -- against the Athletics at Wrigley Field two weeks ago. That is also the last time the Cubs won two games in a row.
They can accomplish both feats by defeating the Pirates at Wrigley Field today.
Bruce Miles says the Cubs should move Alfonso Soriano back to the leadoff spot:
Lou still isn't going with my idea of moving Alfonso Soriano back to the lead-off spot. I tried again after the formal media session was over, and Lou said I'd have to answer for it, if he tried it. He's on. But it ain't happening. But what do they have to lose?
Well, I dunno. It is true that the Cubs had two good years with Soriano leading off. But that was two and three years ago. Soriano appears to be in one of his hot streaks now; he looks comfortable batting sixth, and even his defense appears to be somewhat improved. The Cubs don't really have a leadoff man, but is that truly one of the team's biggest issues?
A win today would be nice. It would "improve" the team's June record to 10-15, which isn't nearly as bad as this month has felt.
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Brad Lincoln, the Pirates' first round pick in 2006 (fourth overall) will be making his fifth major league start today. The first four have all lasted six innings. He gave up five earned runs in two of them, and three earned runs in the other two, and is 0-3. He'll be facing the Cubs for the first time.
Tom Gorzelanny will be making his second start this season vs. his former Pirate teammates; in the other, May 14 at Wrigley Field, he gave up five earned runs in five innings, but left with a 6-5 lead. The less said about the rest of that game, the better. Current Pirates are 13-for-46 (.283) vs. Tom, with no HR.
Today's game is again on WGN and FSN Pittsburgh. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at 1:15 pm CDT, and the overflows will post at 2:15, 3:15 and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.