Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2013 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Pittsburgh 3

The Pittsburgh Pirates are back in a first-place tie in the National League Central as they continue their four-game series against the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Pirates won the series opener to forge a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals atop the division with 16 games remaining in the regular season. The Pirates have won four consecutive contests.

Chicago, which is playing out the string of a miserable season, is 2-2 on its 11-game road trip. The Pirates are 46-25 at home with 10 games left on their final homestand, and Thursday’s victory improved them to 8-5 against the Cubs this season with six meetings remaining. Pittsburgh's Jordy Mercer is 6-for-9 with three doubles over the last two games and is batting .315 since the All-Star break.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (2-2, 4.28 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.44)

Arrieta has a 6.53 ERA over his last four starts while going 1-2. He lost to Milwaukee in his last outing, when he gave up four runs and three hits over five innings. Overall, Arrieta is 3-4 with a 5.49 ERA in 11 major-league starts this season, including his time with Baltimore before being acquired by the Cubs.

Morton allowed five runs and six hits in 1 2/3 innings and injured his left foot while losing to the Cardinals in his last outing. His foot has improved and he will attempt to reclaim the form that saw him allow two or fewer runs in six straight starts while winning four consecutive decisions. Morton lost on July 6 to drop to 2-4 with a 5.80 ERA in seven career outings against Chicago.

WALK-OFFS

1. Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo is 1-for-18 over his last five games after hitting a ninth-inning single on Thursday.

2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is batting .457 during the stretch.

3. Cubs OF Nate Schierholtz (5-for-11) and SS Starlin Castro (4-for-9) have fared well against Morton.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Cubs 2