Following a four-game split against the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates return home for six games first with a National League Central series against the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs come in tied for second place with the San Francisco Giants in the NL Wild Card race and four games behind the Pirates for first.
“We’ve been playing some really good baseball lately and I think we have a really good shot,” Kris Bryant said. “Our team has really good chemistry and overall we’re excited about this and the chance to play meaningful ball. We definitely look forward to these past couple of months.”
Tonight Francisco Liriano [7-6 2.92 ERA] takes on Jon Lester [6-8 3.26 ERA].
Liriano is 4-2 with a 2.56 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cubs. Earlier this season versus the Cubs Liriano earned a no-decision allowing three runs on three hits in five innings. Thus far in the second half, Liriano is 2-0 and in his last start he allowed three runs [two earned] on 10 hits against the Minnesota Twins.
Lester is 1-1 in his career against the Pirates with a 2.08 ERA in two career games. In his start versus the Pirates this season he allowed one run on nine hits in seven innings earning the win. By striking out Sean Rodriguez May 16, he earned his 1,500th career strikeout. In his last start he earned a win allowing two runs on five hits in eight innings against the Colorado Rockies. Lester struck out 14 batters and was the first Cubs left-handed pitcher with 14 strikeouts since at least 1914.
Seventh inning stretch: Michael Morse joined the Pirates Monday and the corresponding move was sending Jaff Decker back to Triple-A Indianapolis.
“Coming from LA to here is like winning the lotto,” Morse said. “I couldn’t ask for a better team to be a part of and I’m glad to be here. I’ll give them 110 percent.”
Morse will immediately be called upon to contribute as he will bat seventh and play first base tonight.
“I like it, I love it,” said Morse. “I think it’s great and as I told Clint earlier today I want to win. I like to win and I want to win. I had a big taste of it last year winning the World Series with the Giants. I know how these guys felt last year being so close with that one game playoff. This is a team that is hungry.”
“We don’t have Spring Training it’s August third and we have him on the roster for a reason,” manager Clint Hurdle said of the decision. “It wasn’t really difficult either. Let’s see where it goes.”
Morse had his struggles playing close to home with the Miami Marlins and called the Pirates a team full of winners.
Decker batted .077 in nine games over the course of 13 at-bats.
“I thought he did a very nice job in his time up here,” Hurdle said. “[Pedro] Florimon is a gifted middle infielder we needed, Ishikawa has given us good at-bats on the bench. The options play and when you have one we use it. His play didn’t send him down it was mechanical more than anything.”
Tonight’s Lineups:
Pirates [61-43]
1. Gregory Polanco RF
2. Starling Marte LF
3. Andrew McCutchen CF
4. Aramis Ramirez 3B
5. Jung Ho Kang SS
6. Francisco Cervelli C
7. Michael Morse 1B
8. Sean Rodriguez 2B
9. Francisco Liriano P
Cubs [57-47]
1. Dexter Fowler CF
2. Chris Denorfia LF
3. Kris Bryant 3B
4. Anthony Rizzo 1B
5. Jorge Soler RF
6. Starlin Castro SS
7. David Ross C
8. Jon Lester P
9. Addison Russell 2B
Bottom of the ninth: The Cubs have the longest active winning streak in baseball at five games. With a 57-47 record the Cubs are 10 games over .500 for the first time since ending the 2008 season with a 97-64 record… The Cubs are unbeaten in their past four road series and are 18-10 away from Wrigley Field since June 4… The Pirates are scheduled to have four consecutive three-game series against teams with a combined .570 winning percentage… Pedro Florimon will get some outfield reps. This is something he did in Spring Training as well and the Pirates are looking for ways to get him on the field.
He said it: “They’re a great team. Earlier in the year they started off slow and they’ve turned the switch and are no one of the best teams in baseball. This will be a good exciting series. Hopefully it has a playoff atmosphere.” – Bryant on the Pirates
Photo credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images
