Pirates at Cubs
The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to wrap up a second consecutive series win over a National League Central rival when they play the rubber match of a three-game series against the host Chicago Cubs on Thursday. The Cubs are aiming for their first series win of the season.
After being drubbed 10-0 in Monday’s home opener for the Cubs, Pittsburgh evened the series with a 5-2 win Wednesday. Francisco Cervelli and Starling Marte belted home runs into a stiff wind to help the Pirates claim their fifth win in six games. The Cubs scored 10 or more runs five times in their first 10 games, but the offense was absent Wednesday. Chicago managed only six hits, three by Jason Heyward, who hit his fourth home run.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (0-1, 10.29)
After throwing two perfect innings in relief on March 31, Musgrove was dominant in his first start of the season. The 26-year-old struck out eight and allowed three hits and one walk over seven scoreless frames to beat Cincinnati on Friday. Musgrove is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in three starts against the Cubs, including two wins last season.
Quintana gave the Cubs four solid innings of relief in their second game of the season, but he was hit hard in his first start Friday at Milwaukee. The 30-year-old was hammered for eight runs and eight hits — including three home runs — in three innings. Quintana is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA in five starts against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Heyward hit only eight home runs last season, and his fourth didn’t come until June 16.
2. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli went deep Wednesday for his seventh career home run against the Cubs — four more than he has hit against any other opponent.
3. The Cubs promoted Tim Collins from Triple-A Iowa with fellow LHP Jon Lester (hamstring) going on the 10-day injured list and announced RHP Tyler Chatwood will take Lester’s scheduled start Sunday against the Los Angeles Angels.