Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2019 ) Chi. Cubs 2, Pittsburgh 4

Before they even took the field Wednesday, the skidding Chicago Cubs likely had a strong feeling they would be eliminated from postseason contention by the end of the night. The Cubs' faint hopes were snuffed out before they absorbed their eighth straight defeat -- a skid they will try to halt in the finale of a three-game series at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.

Chicago is in the midst of its longest slide since August 2012 after its second straight defeat to a Pirates club that entered the series on a nine-game losing streak. "There's obviously change needed in a lot of areas. That's made even more clear by the nature of what's happened down the stretch," Cubs team president Theo Epstein said before his club dropped a 4-2 decision to Pittsburgh. Kyle Schwarber is 10-for-21 during a six-game hitting streak for Chicago, which will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. Pirates third baseman Erik Gonzalez has hit safely in nine straight after collecting three hits in his second consecutive two-RBI game.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Chicago, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jose Quintana (13-8, 4.55 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (10-12, 4.49)

Quintana has stumbled badly down the stretch, seeing his ERA balloon to 11.85 this month after he was knocked around for five runs over 3 1/3 innings versus St. Louis in his third straight no-decision. The 30-year-old Colombian lasted only 2 1/3 innings against the Pirates in his previous turn and was rocked for five runs and eight hits. Quintana won his four other starts versus Pittsburgh this season, giving up six runs in 27 innings, although Kevin Newman is 7-for-14 against him.

Musgrove extended his unbeaten streak to four starts last time out versus Seattle, working five innings and permitting four runs (two earned) and five hits in a no-decision. The 26-year-old won his previous two starts, limiting San Francisco to four hits over five scoreless innings and holding Colorado to three runs and eight hits in six frames. Anthony Rizzo is hitless in 14 at-bats against Musgrove, who is 0-1 in three starts against Chicago this season despite a sparkling 1.08 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates OF Bryan Reynolds exited Wednesday's game due to hamstring discomfort.

2. Cubs 3B Kris Bryant (ankle) has been shut down for the season.

3. Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez was denied bond on his arrest for sexual assault charges, including solicitation of a minor.

PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Cubs 4