Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 24, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Pittsburgh 1

As the trade rumors continue to swirl around Ryan Dempster, the Chicago Cubs right-hander will try to improve his stock when he faces the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Dempster, who has a no-trade clause, was not happy to hear that a deal is in place for him to go to the Atlanta Braves. Dempster said he will take his time to decide where he wants to go prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Dempster has won five of his last six starts and leads the majors with a 2.11 ERA.

Pirates right-hander Kevin Correia will try to stretch his career-high winning streak to six games and help Pittsburgh avoid being swept at home for the first time this season. The Cubs kept the momentum of Monday’s 2-0 victory going with a 5-1 triumph Tuesday. Despite their first two-game losing streak since May 22-23, the Pirates lead the National League wild card standings but have fallen 2½ games behind the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (5-4, 2.11 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Kevin Correia (7-6, 4.31)

Dempster had a five-game winning streak snapped in Friday’s 4-1 loss at St. Louis when he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings. In his previous five starts, he didn’t allow a run in 33 innings. Dempster is 8-13 with a 5.39 ERA in 50 appearances (25 starts) against the Cubs, including a 1-0 loss on May 25. The Pirates’ roster is hitting .309 against Dempster. Neil Walker is 8-for-19 and Andrew McCutchen is 6-for-23, with each having a homer and five RBIs.

Correia has won his last four starts, including a 4-3 victory over Miami on Friday when he allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings. He hasn’t pitched more than six innings in any of his last six outings (5-0, no-decision). Correia is 3-4 with a 5.84 in 13 games against Chicago, including a no-decision in the Pirates’ 3-2 victory on May 26. The Cubs’ roster is hitting .298 against him, with Starlin Castro (7-for-14) and Alfonso Soriano 5-for-19), two homers, three RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh has only seven hits in the first two games of the series.

2. The Pirates acquired left-hander Wandy Rodriguez from the Houston Astros on Tuesday for three minor-leaguers. Rodriguez, who spent his entire career in the Astros’ organization, is 7-9 with a 3.79 ERA in 2012 and 80-84, 4.04 in eight major-league seasons.

3. McCutchen went 0-for-3 on Tuesday. He is 32-for-69 (.464) with seven homers, 15 RBIs and 18 runs scored in July.