Game Preview
The Chicago Cubs aren’t helping their postseason chances by making things easy on themselves. On Thursday night, they will play the rubber game of the series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, hoping to avoid losing two in a row and the series.
Chicago is now in first place in the National League Central, a half game ahead of the Miami Marlins, after losing nine of their last 12. During that slump, the Cubs are just 2-3 versus Colorado and Pittsburgh, two teams that are 50 games below.500 between them. They won 14-1 on Tuesday, ending a five-game losing streak, but then lost 13-7 on Wednesday.
Only the second time in 12 meetings this season did Pittsburgh beat the Cubs, and they did it with a seven-run fourth inning that finished off Chicago star Justin Steele. The Pirates ended a six-game losing streak at Wrigley Field, as well.
When Kyle Hendricks started for the Cubs this month, they won 2 out of 3. Despite his experience, the veteran right-hander has a 4.96 ERA and has not gone the distance in any of his September starts. Hendricks lost Saturday’s 13-inning game against Arizona 7-6 after allowing three runs on seven hits over five and a third innings.
But against Pittsburgh this year, Hendricks has been outstanding, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Ke’Bryan Hayes, a third baseman for the Pirates, is 8-for-18 against Hendricks with two home runs and a double.
Johan Oviedo (8-14, 4.27) is scheduled to start for Pittsburgh against the Cubs for the third time this season. In a 7-2 loss at Wrigley Field on June 15, he surrendered four runs on eight hits over four and a third innings. Five days later, in a 4-0 home defeat to the Cubs, the right-hander allowed only two runs over six innings.
In nine career appearances (eight starts), he is 1-4 versus the Cubs with an earned run average of 4.19 and 39 strikeouts. In his first two September starts, Oviedo gave up eight runs (six earned) across seven and a third innings. On Friday, despite facing a 7-5 deficit against the New York Yankees, he struck out seven batters while only allowing one run on five hits and two walks.
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Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Game Information
- Date: 09/21/2023
- Time: 07:40 PM ET
- Location: Wrigley Field.
- How to Watch Pirates vs Cubs: MLB.TV
- Live Stream: MLB.TV
