Today at 4:05 p.m. ET, the Pittsburgh Pirates (35-37) and Chicago Cubs (30-40) open up a three-game set live from Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game can be live streamed here. Pittsburgh fans can hear all of the action on KDKA 93.7 while Chicago fans can do the same on WGN 720.
Pittsburgh embarks on a six-game road trip through Chicago and Tampa Bay after losing two of three to the Cincinnati Reds on a brief homestand while Chicago opens up a nine-game homestand after going 5-5 on its 10-game road trip.
The Pirates took three of four from the Cubs at PNC Park last week. Pittsburgh enters play in fourth place in the National League Central, a full eight games behind the first place Milwaukee Brewers while Chicago enters in last place and 12 games back.
Charlie Morton (4-7, 3.09 ERA) toes the rubber for the Pirates while the Cubs counter with Edwin Jackson, who is 4-7 with a 5.11 ERA.
The Cubs are 15-14 at home compared to 15-26 on the road, and the team is hoping that returning to Wrigley Field after a long road trip will prove to be a good thing.
"Over the last two or three weeks, we've been playing pretty good baseball and bounced back," said Cubs manager Rick Renteria via MLB.com. "We keep chipping away, keep battling. The relief corps has done a good job."
Jackson faced Morton last week and was hit up for four runs by the Pirates off of seven hits and two walks in six innings in a 6-2 defeat.
"I just have to do a better job of executing pitches and keeping the ball down," Jackson said after the game per MLB.com.
Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen ranks fifth in the NL with a .317 average, first in walks (51), second in on-base percentage (.427), third in OPS (.967) and fourth in total bases (144). Outfielder Starling Marte ranks tied for fourth in the NL with 17 stolen bases and is hitting .262 with five homers and 26 RBI.
Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro leads Chicago with a .291 average and 41 RBI and is tied for fourth in the NL with 22 doubles while first baseman Anthony Rizzo is hitting .278 with a team-best 14 homers and 38 RBI and ranks second in the NL with 47 walks.
Two NL Central rivals open up their series when the Pirates and Cubs battle at Wrigley Field this afternoon in Chicago.
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