Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Pittsburgh 0

Two teams going in opposite directions meet Saturday night when the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs visit the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates for the third of a four-game set. The Cubs notched a second straight 1-0 triumph in the series Friday night for a seventh victory in 10 contests, extending their lead in the division to 4 1/2 games over the Milwaukee Brewers, while Pittsburgh lost its fifth straight.

Kyle Schwarber launched his 21st homer of the season for the only run Friday and Chicago matched a major league record with seven double plays, including one to end the game with a pair of runners on base. Tyler Chatwood will try to spin another pitching gem for the Cubs in the series when he takes to mound Saturday against snake-bit righty Joe Musgrove of the Pirates. Pittsburgh put together an 11-game winning streak that straddled the All-Star break to put itself in the playoff race, but has lost 13 of the last 21 contests to fall 11 games out in the division and 6 1/2 back of the second NL wild card. Starling Marte had two of the Pirates’ seven hits in Friday’s setback and has hit safely in four straight.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Tyler Chatwood (4-5, 5.06 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (4-7, 3.49)

Chatwood will be summoned from the bullpen corps to replace scheduled starter Mike Montgomery, who went on the disabled list Friday with left shoulder inflammation. The 28-year-old Californian makes his 20th start of the season after permitting four runs on seven hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings across three relief appearances in August. Marte has a homer against Chatwood, who gave up five runs in six innings versus the Pirates this year.

Musgrove has recorded four straight quality starts, allowing just seven earned runs over 27 innings, but is just 1-3 during that stretch. The 25-year-old California native was beaten by Colorado (2-0) and the New York Mets (1-0) before yielding four runs (three earned) over six innings last Sunday in a loss at San Francisco. Jason Heyward is 2-for-5 against Musgrove, who held the Cubs to one run on seven hits over seven innings in a win May 30.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli was hitless in one at-bat Friday, but is 11-for-29 with three homers and 10 RBIs against the Cubs in 2018.

2. Chicago 2B-OF Ben Zobrist had a hit Friday and is 26-for-67 since the All-Star break to raise his overall batting average to .307.

3. Pirates LHP Felipe Vazquez has converted 16 straight save opportunities overall and registered 4 1/3 scoreless innings this month.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Cubs 4