Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2014 ) Chi. Cubs 0, Pittsburgh 1

The Pittsburgh Pirates will try to build off the momentum of their dramatic Opening Day victory when they host the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game series. A crowd of 39,833 - the largest to witness a regular-season game in PNC Park history - watched Neil Walker deliver a home run leading off the 10th inning Monday to give the Pirates a 1-0 win over the Cubs. It was a fitting start for Pittsburgh, which scored the fewest runs among the 10 playoff teams in 2013.

With the Pirates coming off their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992, expectations have changed dramatically in Pittsburgh. “It’s great to be part of this organization obviously, but our main goal is to get to the World Series and bring home a title for Pittsburgh. It all starts (Opening Day),'' Walker told reporters.
The Pirates' Charlie Morton tries to validate his solid spring training when he opposes the Cubs' Edwin Jackson, who led the National League with 18 losses in 2013.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSN Chicago Plus, ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (2013: 8-18, 4.98 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (2013: 7-4, 3.26)

Jackson lost his final three starts in 2013 and was 1-7 over the final two months, but had a decent spring training (4.00 ERA, 20 strikeouts, two walks in 18 innings). The 30-year-old is 6-2 with a 3.19 ERA in 10 starts against the Pirates, including 2-2, 3.48 in four starts last season. Pittsburgh's roster is batting .225 against Jackson, but 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen (8-for-20, two home runs, two doubles, three walks, five RBIs) and Starling Marte (5-for-11) have been trouble.

Morton, who posted an 0.84 ERA in four spring outings (11 innings), is 2-4 with a 4.91 ERA in nine starts against Chicago. The 6-5 Flemington, N.J., native didn't begin his 2013 season until June 13 after recovering from Tommy John surgery, but the Pirates were confident enough in his performance over the final four months to hand him a three-year, $21 million contract. Chicago's Starlin Castro (6-for-15) and Nate Schierholtz (5-for-15) have handled Morton but combined for only two RBIs.

WALK-OFFS

1. With the right-handed Morton on the mound, Luis Valbuena (12 home runs in 331 at-bats in 2013) is expected to start at third base for Chicago after platoon partner Mike Olt started Monday against the left-handed Francisco Liriano. Valbuena pinch-hit for Olt in the ninth inning Monday and drew a leadoff walk.

2. Pittsburgh finished with only a plus-57 run differential in 2013 despite its 94-68 record.

3. The first instant replay challenge in Major League Baseball history occurred in the fifth inning Monday when Cubs manager Rick Renteria questioned whether Chicago's Jeff Samardzija was out at first after bunting into a double play in the fifth inning. The review quickly confirmed first base umpire Bob Davidson's ruling.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Cubs 2