Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 19, 2018 ) Chi. Cubs 1, Pittsburgh 2
Despite an inconsistent offense and injuries to several key players throughout the year, the Chicago Cubs begin the final week of the regular season on the cusp of a third consecutive National League Central title. They’ll try to move closer to wrapping up their spot in the postseason when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday for the opener of their four-game series.
The Cubs reduced their magic number to clinch the NL Central to five with a 6-1 win over the crosstown White Sox on Sunday, maintaining their 2 1/2-game lead over Milwaukee. "In spite of not being the offensive team I thought we would be, we're still in a pretty good position," Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters. "I think that just goes back to the culture and a winning attitude and you expect to win when you go play. The game is close and you expect to win it somehow. That's something you have to develop over time, and it doesn't happen overnight." The Pirates have won 12 of their last 17 contests, but they mathematically were eliminated from playoff contention with Sunday’s 13-6 loss to the Brewers. The Cubs lead the season series 8-7 and have held the head-to-head advantage over the Pirates every season since 2014.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, NBCS Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (13-9, 3.24 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Cole Hamels (9-10, 3.90)
The Pirates have won the last six games Taillon has started, as he is 4-0 with a 1.66 ERA over that stretch. The 26-year-old didn’t get the win last time out despite a dominant effort, as he registered 11 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against Kansas City. Taillon is 3-3 with a 4.35 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs.
Hamels’ dominant stretch to begin his tenure with the Cubs ended when he was roughed up for seven runs over six innings in a loss at Arizona last time out. The 34-year-old still has posted an impressive 2.42 ERA in 10 turns since being acquired from Texas and has allowed only four runs in 27 2/3 frames at Wrigley Field since calling it home. Hamels is 5-3 with a 2.49 ERA in 12 career starts against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Chicago INF Javier Baez has recorded an NL-best 81 extra-base hits, the most by a Cub since Derrek Lee collected 99 in 2005.
2. Pirates CF Starling Marte left Sunday’s game in the fifth inning with tightness in his left calf.
3. Cubs 3B-OF Kris Bryant was held out of the lineup Sunday due to left shoulder fatigue.
PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Cubs 2