Game 68: Pirates @ Cubs 06.18.16

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Pittsburgh
Pirates
33-34
8:15 PM ET
Line: CHC -250
Chicago
Cubs
45-20
PIT: Niese (6-3 , 4.60 ERA) CHC: Lester (8-3 , 1.89 ERA)
Pick Center
1217 tickets available
7:53 PM ET
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CHICAGO -- Even with baseball's best record and a lineup that's set in most spots, the Chicago Cubs don't seem afraid to give top minor league prospects a shot in the major leagues.
The latest rookie to arrive is catcher Willson Contreras, who made it from Triple-A Iowa in time to join the Cubs for the start of a three-game weekend series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"This is an incredible feeling, I still can't believe it that my dream came true and now I'm here," Contreras said. "My first thought was 'wow, now it's my time.'"
Contreras made his major league debut in the ninth inning of Friday's 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, replacing starter Miguel Montero behind the plate.
Contreras will serve as No. 3 catcher behind Montero and 39-year-old backup David Ross, who is having a strong final season with appearances in 36 games but also presents concerns that it might be hard to keep up the pace.
Montero, who has spent time on the disabled list this season, is happy to see Contreras with the big club and looks forward to his contributions.
"Why didn't they call him earlier when I went down on the DL?" Montero said. "Maybe he wasn't ready at that time. Now he is."
Contreras was batting .350 with nine home runs and 43 RBI in 54 games at Iowa.
Albert Almora Jr., another rookie called up earlier this month, has also had a big impact. On Friday, he went 3-for-4, walked and doubled and collected two RBI. Almora is batting .429 in nine games this season.
The Pirates continue to try to shake off a slump that has seen eight losses in their last nine games.
The typically dependable Andrew McCutchen also is looking for answers to an unusual subpar season. He's batting just .241 through 64 games after going 1-for-3 with a walk on Friday.
Fortunately for the Pirates, others have picked up the slack for the National League's No. 2 team in hitting with a .270 average.
"We've got multiple reasons why this has been the most consistent, productive offense we've had since I've been here," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
Wrigley Field has been a favorite spot for McCutchen -- he was a lifetime .311 hitter in Chicago -- and Hurdle is confident he'll eventually come around.
"He has to find a way to punch back," Hurdle said. "He continues to work hard, continues to look at today as the day he's going to get it turns around."
Pittsburgh hopes to have outfielder Starling Marte back sometime this weekend. He sat out Friday's game while still recovering from an eye injury suffered in Wednesday's 4-0 victory over the Mets.
Marte was struck by a line drive in the bottom of the fifth inning and left the game. He's batting .332 with six homers and 25 RBI through 61 games."