Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2009 ) Pittsburgh 8, Chi. Cubs 2
The streaky Chicago Cubs hope this good turn has some legs.
The Cubs have alternated winning and losing streaks for the past 10 days. They've watched a four-game win streak give way to a three-game skid before turning things back around to win the last three contests against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend.
Chicago has won three straight and seven of 10 to get to .500 for the fourth time this year and take over second place in the NL Central. The Cubs haven't been above .500 all season.
They ought to have a good chance of getting over the hump against the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost three in a row and 10 of 13.
Outfielder Alfonso Soriano's work with new Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo seems to be paying off. Soriano is hitting .390 with five home runs and 16 RBIs in 18 games since April 12. He went 3-for-4 with two homers and four RBIs in Sunday's 10-5 win against Arizona.
Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot is just as hot, hitting .482 during a 12-game hitting streak to boost his average to .355 - which was tied for second in the National League entering Monday.
The Pirates are unsure whether they'll have one of their hottest hitters, as outfielder Andrew McCutchen was lifted for a pinch hitter Sunday after turning his right ankle on the outside of the bag on a close play at first. McCutchen is hitting .288 with four home runs whiile recording 10 stolen bases, which is tied for the National League lead.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster has four quality starts in five outings this year, and he has pitched into the eighth in each of his past three starts, though he lost one of them and took a no-decision in another because of a lack of run support. Despite a 2.78 ERA, Dempster only has a 2-1 record to show for it. In addition, the Cubs are 2-3 when he starts, having scored only two runs in three of the five games he has started.
The Pirates counter with left-hander Paul Maholm, who has been consistent, if unspectacular, in his five starts this year. He has pitched into the seventh each of his past three outings, allowing 10 runs over that span. In his last start, Maholm gave up four runs on seven hits over seven innings in a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old has an odd track record against the Cubs. He is 4-1 in nine starts against them, but has a whopping 7.06 ERA and has
surrendered eight home runs. The one loss and much of the damage have come in his last four outings against Chicago, in which he has a 10.35 ERA.
Soriano has hit him particularly well - he is 6 for 18 with three home runs against Maholm.