Cubs at Pirates
Adam Frazier has made himself at home in the leadoff spot, following up a five-hit performance that included a majors' record-tying four doubles by going 4-for-4 with a three-run homer and three runs scored. Frazier and the Pittsburgh Pirates aim to continue their torrid ways on Wednesday when they play the third contest of a four-game series versus the visiting Chicago Cubs.
Pittsburgh's Starling Marte ripped an RBI double among his two hits in Tuesday's 5-1 win to improve to 6-for-13 with three runs scored in his last three games. Josh Bell drove in his majors-best 78th RBI on the heels of his three-homer, seven-RBI performance in Monday's 18-5 romp over the Cubs. While Pittsburgh has won nine of 13 to move within four games of first-place Milwaukee in the congested National League Central, Chicago resides one game behind the Brewers after losing three in a row and eight of 12. Willson Contreras' RBI double in the ninth inning prevented the shutout and accounted for his lone hit in his last four games (1-for-16).
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Yu Darvish (2-4, 4.98 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Chris Archer (3-6, 5.50)
Darvish's pronounced string of 10 straight no-decisions came to a halt last Wednesday after he allowed five runs on as many hits in five innings of a 5-3 setback against Atlanta. The 32-year-old Japanese star surrendered two homers for the third time in four outings after keeping the ball in the park in five of his previous six. Darvish fell to 1-2 in three career starts versus Pittsburgh after yielding five runs on five hits -- including two homers -- in 5 1/3 innings of a 5-2 loss on April 10.
Archer saw his winless stretch extend to four straight outings as he received a no-decision at Milwaukee on Friday after exiting the contest with discomfort in his left hip. The 30-year-old has pitched significantly better in the Steel City, posting a 3-3 mark with a 3.89 ERA as opposed to an 0-3 record with a 7.89 ERA away from home. Javier Baez is 5-for-9 in his career against Archer, who owns a 2-1 mark with a 2.25 ERA in four career starts versus the Cubs.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago RF Jason Heyward has scored six runs during his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Pittsburgh LF Corey Dickerson has hit safely in seven of his last nine contests.
3. The MRI on LHP Cole Hamels confirmed a strain in his left oblique muscle, the Cubs announced on Tuesday.