Cubs at Pirates
In the midst of one of the worst slumps of his career, Gregory Polanco picked a fine time to come alive - and may have saved his job in the process. Polanco will try to string together multi-hit performances for the first time this season Sunday, when his Pittsburgh Pirates attempt to take the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle admitted he considered either benching Polanco or moving him down from the third spot in the order after the outfielder entered Saturday's contest with an .096 average over his last seven games and no extra-base hits since May 28. The 25-year-old rewarded his manager's patience Saturday with a two-run shot in the first inning and later added a double in a 4-3 win as Pittsburgh improved to 5-3 this season against the defending World Series champions. Anthony Rizzo remained hot for the Cubs with a 2-for-4 effort that extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but the three-time All-Star is about the only thing going right at the moment for Chicago (33-34), which fell back below .500 with its seventh loss in 10 contests. The Cubs are 5-16 on the road since winning eight of their first 11 away from home to begin the season.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Chicago, ROOT Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH John Lackey (4-7, 5.26 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (3-1, 2.90)
Lackey dropped his fourth straight decision Monday at the New York Mets, tying a season high by surrendering three homers among the four runs and six hits he allowed in five frames. The 38-year-old has served up at least two blasts in four of his last six outings and permitted the fourth-highest total in the majors this season (19). Polanco is 7-for-13 against Lackey, who is 2-2 with a 3.48 ERA in seven career starts versus the Pirates after going 1-0 with a 4.91 mark in two turns against them last season.
Taillon made his triumphant return to the mound Monday after missing just over a month following a diagnosis of testicular cancer in early May, permitting five hits and striking out five over as many scoreless innings in a win versus Colorado. The former No. 2 overall draft pick will be taking the mound at home for only the third time this season, as he went 1-0 with a 3.31 ERA in the first two turns. Rizzo is 4-for-8 with two homers against Taillon, who worked seven scoreless frames to record a victory against the Cubs on April 16.
WALK-OFFS
1. With a win on Sunday, the Cubs can end their streak of losing six straight road series and notch their first road series victory since taking two of three in Pittsburgh from April 24-26.
2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen, who homered on Saturday, is batting .392 since moving to the sixth spot in the batting order 20 games ago.
3. Chicago SS Addison Russell has belted three of his six home runs this season over the last six contests.