Cubs at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have followed an 8-1 stretch with two wins in nine games and hope to begin turning around the ship when they host the Chicago Cubs on Monday afternoon for the first of three contests between the National League Central rivals. The Pirates coughed up a three-run lead before suffering a 6-4 loss to visiting St. Louis on Sunday and are 2-4 during a stretch of 13 straight games against division opponents.
Rookie outfielder Austin Meadows continues to impress after being recalled, going 15-for-33 with three homers and six RBIs in his first nine major-league contests for Pittsburgh, which could be without closer Felipe Vazquez (left forearm discomfort) after he left Sunday’s game. Chad Kuhl will try to shake the Pirates out of their funk when he takes the mound Monday opposite Mike Montgomery, who makes his first start of the season. Chicago rolled to an 8-3 victory over San Francisco on Sunday to take two of three in the series and starts the week 4 1/2 games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. Anthony Rizzo has hit safely in nine straight games for the Cubs, recording 10 RBIs during that stretch to push his total to 24 this month - which is second in the majors.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, ABC 7 (Chicago), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Mike Montgomery (0-1, 5.33 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chad Kuhl (4-2, 4.20)
Montgomery, who has made 37 starts in 127 career appearances, allowed nine runs in 23 innings of relief this year before giving up six in 2 1/3 frames against Cleveland on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Californian has completed three innings twice in 2018, including on May 6 as he held St. Louis without a hit. Jordy Mercer is 4-for-8 with a homer versus Montgomery, who gave up three runs over two frames against the Pirates on April 10.
Kuhl is unbeaten in his last four starts and six of seven after limiting Cincinnati to one run and five hits over six innings in a no-decision on Wednesday. The 25-year-old native of Delaware, who is 17-17 in his career, has recorded five quality starts while posting three wins in his last seven trips to the mound. Ben Zobrist is 5-for-9 with two homers and six RBIs versus Kuhl, who is 1-4 with an 8.23 ERA in seven career outings against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli missed Sunday’s game due to flu-like symptoms and is questionable for the series opener.
2. Chicago CF Albert Almora Jr. is 12-for-26 with four doubles and three RBIs over his last eight contests.
3. Pittsburgh RF Gregory Polanco is hitless in his last 19 at-bats, with nine strikeouts in that stretch.