12:35 pm
May 27

Cubs @ Pirates

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago Cubs (26-22)

@ Pittsburgh Pirates (18-30)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Hendricks (CHC): 4-4; 4.74 ERA

Anderson (PIT) 3-4; 4.73 ERA

 

Current odds:

Chicago Cubs: (TBD)

Pittsburgh Pirates: (TBD)

 

•  You never know what the lineups might look like Thursday when the visiting Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates play the third and final game of their series — and not just because of normal day-game adjustments.

• For the Cubs, who are going for a sweep, things keep changing as their training room continues to be a high-traffic zone. They have used 41 players, the latest being Rafael Ortega in Wednesday’s 4-1 win after Nico Hoerner was put on the injured-list. Pittsburgh has used 43 players, and while injuries have been a problem, finding a group of players and a batting order that works has been even tougher.

• In the series finale, Chicago right-hander Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 4.74 ERA) is slated to oppose Pittsburgh left-hander Tyler Anderson (3-4, 4.73 ERA).

• Anderson has the task of bouncing back from his first real dud as a Pirate. He tied a career high with nine runs allowed Friday in a 20-1 loss at Atlanta. That came in a five-inning outing that included 10 hits, two walks, seven strikeouts and three homers — notably Ronald Acuna Jr.’s grand slam.

• Anderson is 3-2 with a 3.99 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs, including 1-2 in three starts this year. This is a rematch of a game May 9 at Wrigley Field, when Anderson picked up the win in a 6-5 Pirates victory with a strong outing, allowing two runs in eight innings.

• Hendricks that game gave up six runs, four of them earned, and nine hits in five innings, with one walk and three strikeouts. He also got a loss against Pittsburgh April 1 and has lost three in a row at PNC Park. Hendricks’ last outing was a win Friday at St. Louis when he allowed three runs, just one earned, and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He has pitched into the seventh in three of his four May starts and seems to be following his reputed form of starting slow — a 7.54 ERA in five starts in April — before settling down in May. He has a 2.36 ERA in his four outings this month. In 21 career starts against Pittsburgh, Hendricks is 6-10 with a 3.36 ERA.

6/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Chicago Cubs
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