Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates preview, Sunday 6/10, 1:20 CT

I suppose I should make this a semi-permanent feature of game previews here:

This has been one of the wettest springs/early summers on record in Chicago, the wettest May continuing as we begin June. Hopefully, we’ll get this one in, then the Cubs won’t have to worry about rain the next three days at Miller Park.

Sunday notes:

• The Cubs had doubles Saturday from Jason Heyward and Albert Almora Jr. That gave them 94 consecutive regular-season games with at least one extra-base hit. That tied the franchise’s longest such streak since at least 1908, previously done from May 5-August 15, 1995.
• The Cubs’ 202 extra-base hits this season rank third in the N.L., trailing only the Braves (215) and Dodgers (212).
• In Kris Bryant’s two days as leadoff hitter, he’s gone 3-for-6 with a walk and HBP (on base five of his eight PA) and scored two runs. The Cubs have used eight different leadoff hitters this season, tied for the most in the majors with the Marlins and Rays.
• Cubs starting pitchers are 6-2 with a 2.34 ERA (18 ER/69⅓ IP) in the team’s last 12 games since May 28. The team overall is 10-2 in those games.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

The Pirates lineup was not available at posting time. Please check the BCB Twitter feed for the Pirates lineup.

Kyle Hendricks, RHP vs. Ivan Nova, RHP

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Hendricks started against the Pirates May 30 in Pittsburgh, the only game the Pirates won in that series.

He was lifted after five decent innings (seven hits, two runs) because the Cubs had runners on base and they were looking for runs. Tommy La Stella batted for him and grounded out.

Since that game, Hendricks had a rough outing against the Phillies June 5, allowing five runs in five innings.

Ivan Nova started against the Cubs April 10 at Wrigley Field and threw seven solid innings, allowing three runs. Since then he's had a rough May: 7.61 ERA, 1.859 WHIP, six HR allowed in 23 innings.

I'd vote for his bad May to continue into June.

There have been only six runs scored in this entire series so far, five by the Cubs, one by the Pirates.

Today’s game is on WGN.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

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The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.