Pirates at Cubs
The surging Chicago Cubs will try for their second consecutive weekend sweep when they wrap up a three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. The Cubs have claimed a pair of pitchers’ duels to begin the set, winning the first two games by a combined score of 5-1.
Chicago posted a 2-0 victory on Saturday to move a season-high 13 games over .500. The Cubs, who are one-half game behind National League Central-leading Milwaukee, have done it in a variety of ways – their star-laden lineup is heating up, but their pitchers have been dominant so far against Pittsburgh. The Pirates managed a season-low one hit on Saturday as they were shut out for the third time in their last six contests. Pittsburgh has lost three straight and is 5-16 over its last 21, dropping a season-worst two games below .500.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (2-5, 4.96 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Kyle Hendricks (4-5, 3.59)
Nova is set to come off the disabled list and make his first start since May 24. The 31-year-old recorded four straight quality starts to end April but posted a 7.61 ERA in five outings in May before landing on the DL with a sprained finger. Nova is 3-1 with a 4.03 ERA in five career turns against the Cubs, including a win on April 10 in Chicago.
Hendricks is coming off perhaps his worst start of the season as he allowed five runs over five innings in a loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday. It marked only the second time in 12 turns this year the 28-year-old has yielded more than three earned runs. Hendricks is 4-4 with a 3.24 ERA in 12 career starts against the Pirates, including a loss on April 12 in which he gave up only two runs over six frames.
1. Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has recorded an RBI in each of his last six games with a plate appearance and has collected 36 in his last 35 contests.
2. Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli left Saturday’s game as a precaution after being hit by a foul ball on the left side of his jaw.
3. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 9-for-24 during his seven-game hitting streak and has reached base in 12 straight contests.