Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview

Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Apr 8, 2014 ) Pittsburgh 7, Chi. Cubs 6

The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed three of four meetings with the Chicago Cubs this season, but they've been anything but dominant as all four contests have been decided by one run. The National League Central rivals go at it again Wednesday at Wrigley Field with the Pirates looking to lock up their third straight series win to start the season. Pittsburgh won 7-6 in Tuesday's opener despite a pair of home runs from Chicago's Starlin Castro.

The Cubs showed some fight Tuesday, rallying from 4-0 and 6-4 deficits to tie it twice before the Pirates put them away. Their first-year manager put up a fight as well, getting ejected in the ninth inning for arguing balls and strikes to become the first skipper tossed in the majors this year. The Pirates continue to play well at Wrigley Field, where they are 16-10 over the past four seasons and have won their last five night games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jason Hammel (1-0, 1.35)

Rodriguez hasn't won since May 26, but his season debut against the Cubs last week was promising. He allowed three runs on five hits over six innings in his first big-league outing since June 5. The left-hander is 9-8 with a 3.63 ERA in 25 career starts against the Cubs, including a 3-5 mark and a 4.70 ERA in 13 outings at Wrigley Field.

Hammel hopes his Wrigley Field debut goes as well as his first outing for his new team. He beat the Pirates on Thursday, allowing just one run and two hits over 6 2/3 innings while recording five strikeouts. The 31-year-old has faced the Pirates five times (four starts) and is 3-1 with a 3.62 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates hitters are a combined 14-for-87 with 17 strikeouts against Hammel with 1B Travis Ishikawa (2-for-16, three strikeouts) and C Russell Martin (1-for-13) struggling the most.

2. Cubs 2B/CF Emilio Bonifacio is 14-for-21 against the Pirates this season and is 5-for-15 with a double in his career against Rodriguez.

3. Pirates RHP Mark Melancon worked a perfect eighth inning Tuesday and has gone 66 innings without allowing a home run, the longest active streak in the majors.

PREDICTION: Cubs 5, Pirates 4