Sports Magazine

Game 146: Cubs at Pirates

By Kipper @pghsportsforum
12:35 PM first pitch. Pirates look to square the series at two games.
Probables: Kyle Hendricks (7-6, 4.08) vs. Charlie Morton (9-7, 4.02)
Preview:
http://m.mlb.com/news/article/201509...game_pk=415837
"Cubs aim to keep heat on Pirates in finale
By Adam Berry / MLB.com | + 0 COMMENTS
After splitting a doubleheader on Tuesday and winning in extra innings late Wednesday night, the Cubs will try to further close the gap in the National League Wild Card race Thursday afternoon, when they wrap up a four-game series against the Pirates.
Entering Thursday's series finale at PNC Park, the Cubs trail the Pirates by three games -- with four matchups remaining between the two clubs this season. The Pirates, meanwhile, have fallen four games behind the division-leading Cardinals in the NL Central standings.
Right-hander Charlie Morton will try to push Pittsburgh's lead back to four games. The Bucs have won eight of Morton's 10 starts at PNC Park, where he owns a 3.00 ERA this year.
Morton will line up opposite Cubs righty Kyle Hendricks, who is coming off a win in Philadelphia in which he posted his first quality start since Aug. 1. Hendricks is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts against the Pirates this season.
Things to know about this game
• The Pirates are 50-24 at home this season, the third straight year they've won at least 50 games at PNC Park. It's the first time in franchise history the Pirates have had a streak that long. The Cardinals are the only other team with 50 or more home wins in each of the last three seasons.
• The Cubs are 9-6 against the Pirates this year. Chicago has not won a season series against Pittsburgh since 2009 (10-4), though they split their 16 matchups in 2011 and '12. After Thursday, the Pirates and Cubs will meet three more times this season: Sept. 25-27 at Wrigley Field.
• One potential matchup to watch: Cubs infielder Starlin Castro is a career .444 (12-for-27) hitter against Morton, with three of those 12 hits going for home runs.
Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs."

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