Cubs look to end 7-game slide against Pirates
Chicago Cubs (82-75, third in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (66-91, fifth in the NL Central)
Pittsburgh; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Jon Lester (13-10, 4.51 ERA) Pirates: Dario Agrazal (4-5, 5.08 ERA)
LINE: Cubs -191; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: Chicago enters the matchup as losers of their last seven games.
The Pirates are 26-45 against teams from the NL Central. Pittsburgh ranks sixth in the majors in hitting with a .265 batting average, Bryan Reynolds leads the club with an average of .316.
The Cubs are 35-36 in division matchups. Chicago’s team on-base percentage of .328 is eighth in the MLB. Anthony Rizzo leads the team with an OBP of .403. The Pirates won the last meeting 9-2. Francisco Liriano notched his fifth victory and Erik Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs for Pittsburgh. Kyle Hendricks registered his 10th loss for Chicago.
TOP PERFORMERS: Starling Marte leads the Pirates with 159 hits and is batting .295. Adam Frazier is 10-for-31 with three doubles, a home run and three RBIs over the last 10 games for Pittsburgh.
Nicholas Castellanos leads the Cubs with 88 extra base hits and has 73 RBIs. Kris Bryant is 9-for-31 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games for Chicago.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 1-9, .242 batting average, 8.69 ERA, outscored by 54 runs
Cubs: 3-7, .274 batting average, 4.15 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs
Pirates Injuries: Jameson Taillon: (elbow), Edgar Santana: (elbow), Chad Kuhl: (elbow), Kyle Crick: (finger), Nick Burdi: (biceps), Chris Archer: (shoulder), Gregory Polanco: (shoulder), Jason Martin: (shoulder), Starling Marte: (wrist), Lonnie Chisenhall: (finger), Josh Bell: (hamstring), Elias Diaz: (knee).
Cubs Injuries: Allen Webster: (hand), Brandon Morrow: (elbow), Brandon Kintzler: (oblique), Cole Hamels: (shoulder), Kendall Graveman: (elbow), Xavier Cedeno: (wrist), Kris Bryant: (leg), Javier Baez: (thumb).
