Cubs at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have climbed to the fringes of the National League playoff race, and they have a chance to put another dent in the deficit. Winners of 15 of their last 19, the Pirates host the first-place Chicago Cubs for two critical games starting Tuesday.
The Cubs are clinging to a 1 1/2-game lead over second-place Milwaukee in the NL Central entering the week, but the Pirates have clawed within seven games of the lead. Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco will try to keep up his hot streak, as he is 8-for-13 over the past three games. The Cubs have a 5-4 lead in the season series and took two of three in their previous trip to Pittsburgh from May 28-30. A couple Cubs will be excited to face Jameson Taillon for the first time this season as Javier Baez is 6-for-10 with a homer and Anthony Rizzo is 8-for-13 with two homers against the right-hander.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (12-3, 3.06 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (7-8, 3.73)
After dropping a clunker coming out of the All-Star break, Lester got back on track last time out when he held Arizona to one run over six innings. The 34-year-old struck out seven and didn’t issue a walk after giving up 14 free passes over his previous four outings. Lester is 7-5 with a 3.39 ERA in 15 starts against the Pirates, including a 2-0 mark in three meetings this season.
Taillon took a tough-luck loss last time out, but he posted his 11th consecutive start allowing three or fewer earned runs. The 26-year-old held Cleveland to two runs over seven innings in the 4-0 defeat last Wednesday for his fourth quality start in his past six outings. Taillon is 2-3 with a 5.06 ERA in five starts against the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Rizzo has homered in three of his past four games since ending a 25-game drought.
2. Pirates SS Jordy Mercer is 9-for-25 during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Cubs INF David Bote has multiple hits in three of his past five contests.