Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 2, 2014 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Pittsburgh 4

As the Chicago Cubs begin the road back to respectability, offseason acquisitions such as veteran right-hander Jason Hammel will be key to bridging the gap to future success. Hammel on Thursday gets his first chance to impress his new employer when the Cubs complete a three-game series in Pittsburgh against the Pirates. "We just need a few guys in the clubhouse to take charge and the other guys to follow suit and everybody push in the same direction and right now we're getting that,'' Hammel told reporters in spring training while also realizing he could become another in a long line of Cubs traded for prospects by a team out of contention in July.

Hammel will oppose Wandy Rodriguez, who proved healthy with a solid spring training and will make his first regular-season start since June 5 because of forearm tendinitis. The teams will likely be bleary-eyed as Wednesday's contest - a 3-2 Pirates' victory in 16 innings - was the longest game ever played in Pittsburgh at 5 hours, 55 minutes and ended around 1 a.m. ET. Both managers would appreciate their starters going deep as 15 pitchers were used Wednesday - nine by Chicago.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Chicago, ROOT (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jason Hammel (2013: 7-8, 4.97 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Wandy Rodriguez (2013: 6-4, 3.59)

Hammel, who was 6-3 on the road last season, wrapped up a two-year stint in Baltimore in which he was 15-14 with a 4.27 ERA in 46 appearances (43 starts) before signing with the Cubs for one year and $6.75 million, a contract which could prove friendly to a contender come pennant race time. The 31-year-old Greenville, S.C., native, 49-59 with a 4.80 ERA in his career, recorded a 3.24 ERA over 16 2/3 innings in spring training and appears poised to help solidify the Cubs' rotation. Hammel last faced Pittsburgh on April 30, 2011 while with Colorado and allowed one run in seven innings of a 4-1 victory while yielding a home run to Andrew McCutchen.

Rodriguez registered a 3.09 ERA over 11 2/3 innings in spring training and appears to have overcome the mental aspect of his injury. "I feel very happy because when I started spring training, I was thinking a lot about my arm," Rodriguez told reporters. "Every time I throw, I feel good." The 35-year-old Dominican Republic native is 9-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 24 starts against the Cubs - 2-0, 2.13 in two starts last season - and has had little trouble shutting down Starlin Castro (4-for-25, three walks).

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates rookie C Tony Sanchez, who won Wednesday's game with a pinch-hit RBI single in his first at-bat of the season, will likely start Thursday after Russell Martin caught all 16 innings.

2. The Cubs' Emilio Bonifacio went 5-for-7 on Wednesday - a career high for hits - and is 9-for-12 in his first two games with the Cubs.

3. Rodriguez had two of Pittsburgh's 29 hits - including a two-run homer - in the Pirates' 22-5 spring training victory over Toronto on March 25.

PREDICTION: Pirates 3, Cubs 2