On Monday, you could convince yourself that with a good week against the Cubs and Padres, that the Pirates could get back into the NL Central race. By Wednesday morning, it seemed like maybe it was time to adjust the goal to .500. Tonight, all that’s left is to preserve a little bit of dignity by not dropping all of a four-game set to the Cubs at home in PNC Park. That’s all that’s important now: not the NL Central, not a .500 record at the end of the year, not the six-game losing streak … just don’t get swept by the Cubs.
Rodrigo Lopez is starting for the Cubs tonight. He started against the Pirates less than a month ago and the Bucs managed to get to him enough to beat the Cubs. He’s basically Kevin Correia this year: no strikeouts, occasionally homer-happy, and a lower ERA than you’d expect. The Bucs’ bats, even without Derrek Lee (who’s out thanks to the HBP he took off of his hand last night), need to wake up against him. James McDonald pitches for the Pirates and he’s been pretty good of late, save an ugly start against the Phillies on Saturday. The Cubs are not the Phillies. Just win one. Please
First pitch tonight is at 7:05.
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