The Pirates, after getting off to a good start this year and holding first place through April 20, are treading water at 16-15 since then and have fallen into fourth place half a game behind the Cubs entering this series.
Who’s hot for the Pirates over the last week or so: Josh Harrison (.357/.367/.500, 10-for-28), Corey Dickerson (.389/.421/.556, 7-for-18), rookie Austin Meadows (.455/.441/.848, 15-for-33). Meadows, the Pirates’ No. 1 pick in 2013, made his major-league debut on May 18 and has been a hot hitter ever since.
Who’s not: Colin Moran (.167/.242/.267, 5-for-30), Gregory Polanco (.042/.179/.042, 1-for-24), Josh Bell (.172/.219/.276, 5-for-29). Shown above is Moran after one of those five hits, a home run on May 22.
Fun fact
The Cubs are 19-11 in PNC Park since the beginning of 2015 (including the 2015 wild-card game).
Pitching matchups
Monday: Mike Montgomery, LHP (0-1, 5.33 ERA, 1.461 WHIP, 4.25 FIP) vs. Chad Kuhl, RHP (4-2, 4.20 ERA, 1.347 WHIP, 4.67 FIP)
Tuesday: Jon Lester, LHP (4-2, 2.37 ERA, 1.193 WHIP, 4.11 FIP) vs. Ivan Nova, RHP (2-5, 4.96 ERA, 1.346 WHIP, 4.28 FIP)
Wednesday: Kyle Hendricks, RHP (4-3, 3.16 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 4.27 FIP) vs. Joe Musgrove, RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 1.11 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Monday: 12:35 p.m. CT, ABC7 Chicago
Tuesday: 6:05 p.m. CT, WGN
Wednesday: 6:05 p.m. CT, NBC Sports Chicago
Prediction
The Cubs have played well in PNC Park over the last three seasons, and the Pirates have lost five of their last six home games. Two of three.
Up next
The Cubs travel to New York to face the Mets in a four-game series beginning Thursday evening.
Poll
How many games will the Cubs win against the Pirates?
This poll is closed
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24%
3
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63%
2
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9%
1
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3%
0