Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview

Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( May 23, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Pittsburgh 4

The bats have gone quiet for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but they haven't needed to provide much support for left-hander Francisco Liriano, who will get the ball to open a three-game road series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Pirates have dropped three straight and five of six, and they've been shut out three times over that span - including in a one-hitter Wednesday against Atlanta. The Cubs are coming off a two-game road split with the Los Angeles Angels, as they snapped a three-game skid with an 8-6 win in 10 innings Wednesday.

Pittsburgh also has an overtaxed bullpen after its starter left in the first or second inning in two of the past four games. The Pirates will look to Liriano to give the bullpen a break; he struck out nine and allowed two hits in seven shutout innings to beat the Cubs on May 22 in Pittsburgh. The Cubs will counter with Travis Wood, who fared well in his first meeting with the Pirates in 2013. He tossed six innings of one-hit ball in his season debut April 4 in Pittsburgh.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (3-2, 2.17 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (5-3, 2.75)

Liriano has been solid in four of his five starts since coming back from the disabled list, and he racked up a season-high 11 strikeouts in six innings of one-run ball in a loss to Cincinnati his last time out. He is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in two starts against Chicago.

Wood is enjoying a strong campaign with 11 quality starts in 12 outings. He beat the rival White Sox last time out, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings. Wood is 4-4 with a 3.72 ERA in eight games (seven starts) against the Pirates.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Pirates have won four of six meetings this season, including a three-game sweep May 21-23 in Pittsburgh.

2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen, who has nine multi-hit games in his past 18 contests, is 1-for-13 with five strikeouts against Wood.

3. In a combined 59 at-bats against Liriano, the players on the Cubs' active roster have seven hits - five singles and two doubles.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Cubs 2