POSSIBILITY OF PITCHING: No starting lineup named.
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Cubs -130, Pirates +110; over/under is 8 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates lead 2-1 in the next game of the series against the Chicago Cubs.
Pittsburgh led 16-20 at home and 28-40 overall. The Pirates are 12-6 in games when they hit two or more home runs.
Chicago has an overall record of 26-43 and a 13-18 record on the road. The Cubs have an 11–34 record in games when they hit a home run.
Thursday’s match is the 13th time these teams have met this season. In the season series, the Pirates have a 7-5 lead.
BEST PERFORMERS: Brian Reynolds has eight doubles, three triples and 11 home runs for the Pirates. Jack Suwinski is 7-of-29 with a double, three home runs and three RBIs in the last 10 games.
Ian Happ has 15 doubles, two triples and eight home runs for the Cubs. Wilson Contreras is 11 of 40 with three doubles, two home runs and four RBIs in his last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 4-6, .197 avg, 4.86 ERA, five runs behind
Cubs: 3–7, .249 avg, 6.85 ERA, 36 runs behind
INJURIES: Pirates: Zach Thompson: 15-day IL (forearm), Yoshitomo Tsutsugo: 10-day IL (back), Dillon Peters: 15-day IL (back), Tucupita Marcano: 10-day IL (covid-19), Canaan Smith-Njigba: 60-day IL (wrist), Duane Underwood Jr.: 15-day IL (cough), Josh VanMeter: 10-day IL (finger), Ben Gamel: 10-day IL (hamstring), Kevin Newman: 60 days IL (groin), Roberto Perez: 60 days IL (hamstring), Jake Marisnik: 10 days IL (thumb), Greg Allen: 60 days IL (hamstring), Blake Söderlind: 60 days IL (elbow ), Nick Mears: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Cubs: Frank Schwindel: 10 day IL (back), Nick Madrigal: 10 day IL (groin), Wade Miley: 15 day IL (shoulder), Marcus Stroman: 15 day IL (shoulder), David Bote: 60 -Day IL (shoulder), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Drew Smyly: 15-Day IL (oblique), Seiya Suzuki: 10-Day IL (finger), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (shoulder) , Michael Hermosillo: 10-day IL (covid), Adbert Alzolay: 60-day IL (shoulder), Cody Hoyer: 60-day IL (elbow), Brad Wick: 60-day IL (elbow)
