Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Pittsburgh 1
The proverbial "next year" likely is still at least a year or two away for the Chicago Cubs, but optimism around baseball's lovable losers might be on the rise if the Cubs can claim their first 2-0 start since 1995 when they face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday at PNC Park. Chicago won the season opener 3-1 on Monday behind eight scoreless innings from Jeff Samardzija, and it will look to free-agent acquisition Edwin Jackson to keep the Pirates at bay.
The Pirates managed only three hits on Opening Day and no one had more than one, a potential concern for a team that ranked 10th in the National League in runs scored last season and hit .233 as a team while going 16-36 over its final 52 games. The Cubs weren't much better with the bats Monday with only six hits, but they got a big one — a two-run homer in the first inning from first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Chicago will need to get more from the bottom third of the order, as No. 7 hitter Luis Valbuena and No. 8 hitter Brent Lillibridge — both in the lineup because of injuries — combined to go 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, ROOT (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (2012: 10-11, 4.03 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (12-13, 3.76)
Jackson is set for his Cubs debut after signing a four-year, $52 million deal in the offseason. The 29-year-old right-hander is pitching for his eighth team and entering the 11th season of his career. He is 4-0 with a 3.03 ERA in six starts against Pittsburgh and held the Pirates to two runs over seven innings in a no-decision in his only outing against them last season.
Rodriguez shouldn't have to worry about early-season rust after turning in two strong starts while helping the Dominican Republic win the World Baseball Classic. The lefty was solid for the Pirates after being acquired from Houston in the middle of last season, going 5-4 with a 3.72 ERA in 13 outings with Pittsburgh. He is 7-7 with a 3.74 ERA in 22 starts against the Cubs and has a career 2.95 ERA in 33 starts in April.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano is 5-for-41 (.122) with 12 strikeouts about Rodriguez, his worst average against any pitcher he has faced more than 35 times.
2. Pittsburgh brought in C Russell Martin to cut down on the number of stolen bases it allows after 174 of 193 runners stole successfully against the Pirates a year ago. The Cubs were 2-for-2 against Martin on Monday.
3. Cubs manager Dale Sveum told reporters Carlos Marmol is still the team's closer despite getting a quick hook in the ninth inning Monday, but Sveum indicated he won't hesitate to pull Marmol quickly again.
PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Cubs 3