Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview

Pittsburgh at Chi. Cubs

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 6, Chi. Cubs 0

The Chicago Cubs’ division lead is down to the narrowest of margins, and if they can’t get their offense going, it could disappear entirely. The slumping Cubs lead the National League Central by just a half-game over Milwaukee entering the third of a four-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

The Cubs’ recent offensive woes have been especially worrisome against Pittsburgh, which has limited Chicago to five runs across the past six meetings. The Pirates blanked the Cubs 6-0 on Tuesday after pitcher Cole Hamels’ solo homer accounted for Chicago’s only run in the series opener. The Cubs have scored one or fewer runs in four straight home games for the first time since 1989. The Pirates have won four straight on the road and eight of their last 10 overall.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, NBCS Chicago

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Ivan Nova (9-9, 4.01 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Jose Quintana (13-11, 4.11)

Nova has allowed two runs in 16 1/3 innings across three starts this month. The 31-year-old didn’t get out of the fifth inning last time out, though, despite allowing just one run and three hits in a no-decision against Milwaukee. Nova is 4-2 with a 3.27 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs, including a 2-1 mark and a 2.33 ERA in three meetings this season.

After a dominant stretch spanning August and September, Quintana has lost his last two starts. The 29-year-old gave up five runs over five-plus innings in a loss to the crosstown White Sox in his last outing, though he did rack up eight strikeouts. Quintana is 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA in four starts against the Pirates, and he allowed one run over five innings in a no-decision in the first meeting this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cubs 3B/OF Kris Bryant left Tuesday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the left hand, and though X-rays were negative he is not expected to play Wednesday.

2. Pittsburgh OF Pablo Reyes has homered in back-to-back games and boasts multiple hits in six of his past nine contests.

3. Chicago INF Javier Baez has a team-high 51 multi-hit games, the most by a Cubs player since Starlin Castro had 51 in 2012.

PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Pirates 2