Cubs at Pirates
Josh Bell and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been landing haymaker after haymaker against the Chicago Cubs over the first three contests of their four-game series. Bell has four homers in that stretch for the Pirates, who will look to deliver the knockout blow to the Cubs on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Bell collected a double in addition to his 26th homer of the season to boost his extra-base hit total to 59, moving him past Albert Pujols (58, 2003) for the most by a National League player before the All-Star break. Bell's production at the plate has helped Pittsburgh win three in a row and 12 of 17 to reside within two games of Chicago and three back of NL Central-leading Milwaukee. Victor Caratini homered from both sides of the plate on Wednesday and Javier Baez also went deep for the Cubs, who have lost four in a row and nine of 13. Baez is 6-for-14 with two homers, two RBIs and two runs scored in the series heading into an encounter with Thursday starter Jordan Lyles, against whom he is 1-for-9 in his career.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (5-7, 4.21 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jordan Lyles (5-4, 3.71)
Quintana answered a brutal start in which he surrendered nine runs on as many hits -- including three homers -- with six scoreless innings at Cincinnati on Saturday. The 30-year-old Colombian improved to 2-1 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in six career starts against Pittsburgh on April 11 after striking out a season-high 11 batters and scattering four hits over seven frames in a 2-0 win. Quintana has flustered Starling Marte (2-for-15, five strikeouts), although Corey Dickerson is 5-for-11 with a solo homer against the hurler.
Lyles returned from the injured list with a strong performance on Saturday, only to fall to 0-3 in his last four starts after allowing three runs in six innings at Milwaukee. The 28-year-old has been taken deep in each of his last four trips to the mound and five of his last six after surrendering just three homers in his previous seven outings. Lyles improved to 3-2 with a 3.59 ERA in 13 career appearances (seven starts) versus Chicago after permitting one run on three hits and striking out 10 in a 5-2 win on April 10.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh is bidding for its first four-game sweep of Chicago since June 1969.
2. Chicago C Willson Contreras is 3-for-8 in this series after going 0-for-12 in his previous three games.
3. Marte is 9-for-17 with four runs scored in the series.