Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( May 6, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Pittsburgh 11
The Pittsburgh Pirates had to wait almost four years between sweeps of the Chicago Cubs. They hope to get a jump on the next one this afternoon.
A little more than a week after taking three from the Cubs at PNC Park - their first sweep of the Cubs since Aug. 28-30, 2006 - the Pirates head to Wrigley Field for a three-game set starting today.
Pittsburgh sends Brian Burres to the mound, hoping the 29-year-old left-hander can duplicate last week’s performance against the Cubs. Burres threw seven scoreless innings in an 11-1 win on May 6, allowing three hits and three walks and striking out four.
Burres initially was expected to be a spot starter when Ross Ohlendorf was injured, but he has earned a permanent spot in the rotation by tossing 13 consecutive scoreless innings.
Pittsburgh needs him to be special again today to get things turned back around.
The Pirates have struggled since the Cubs left town, losing five of six and scoring only 10 runs during that span. Things were especially bad earlier this week against Cincinnati, managing only one run and 10 hits in a three-game sweep at the hands of the Reds.
Pittsburgh's offense has been so dismal that even outfielder Andrew McCutchen has turned cold. After a five-game span in which he was 10 for 16, McCutchen doesn't have a hit in his last nine at-bats.
The Pirates rank 15th in the National League in runs, hits, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
The Cubs haven't been much better. They've lost four of six and continue to struggle to score runs. That has been especially true when Tom Gorzelanny is on the mound. Chicago has scored three or fewer runs in five of his six starts, which has contributed to his 1-4 record despite a 2.83 ERA and four quality starts.
In his last start at Cincinnati on Saturday, Gorzelanny went six innings and allowed three runs on nine hits. In his past two starts, he has a combined 19 strikeouts.
Today's start will be Gorzelanny's second against his former team. He is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA against the Pirates, including one relief appearance.
Chicago has gotten an offensive spark from shortstop Starlin Castro, who was called up last week and drove in six runs in his major league debut. The 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic is hitting .364 through six games but he has already made five errors.