The Chicago Cubs (18-27) will look to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates (28-18) today in a matinee game with a 12:35 p.m. start time at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. The game can be live streamed for free by clicking this link, or watched at MLB.com with a subscription fee. Pirates fans at work that want to listen to the game can do so by tuning in to KDKA-FM 93.7, while Cubs fans can do the same at WGN 720.
The Cubs road woes have not abated; they are 8-13 on the road and 0-for-2 in this series with the surprising Pirates, who are just two games behind the National League Central leading St. Louis Cardinals.
Leading the charge for the upstart Pirates has been second-year outfielder Starling Marte, whose .304 batting average is the best on the team. He is also tied for the team-lead in stolen bases (10) with All-Star Andrew McCutchen, and leads the club in runs scored (33), one ahead of his more ballyhooed teammate.
Today, Marte will try to tee off on Edwin Jackson (1-6, 5.76 ERA), the Cubs top free agent signing this offseason who is miles away from panning out. Despite showing improvement in his last two outings, Jackson hasn't been giving Chicago the length they expected. Jackson claims to be feeling better each time out, though.
"I've been feeling pretty good mechanically," Jackson said. "I've been able to go out and get in a rhythm early."
The Pirates are countering with Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.78 ERA), who has done very well in his four starts this year. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he's been very happy with Gomez' play since nabbing a rotation slot.
"We're confident when he takes the mound," Hurdle said. "Every time he's taken the ball, he's pitched a competitive game for us, whether it's been in long relief or the starts."
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