Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview
PNC Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Pittsburgh 3
The Chicago Cubs will try for their first road sweep of the season Sunday, when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of their three-game series at PNC Park. Chicago entered the set having lost eight in a row and 17 of 18 on the road. The Cubs routed the Pirates in Friday's series opener, then eked out a 4-3 victory Saturday behind Jeff Samardzija, who tossed the team's first complete game - and the first of his career - in his final start of the year.
Samardzija's performance helped Chicago clinch its first road series win since it took two of three in Pittsburgh from July 23-25. The Cubs' last series sweep occurred from July 13-15, when it won three straight at home against Arizona. The Pirates continue to fade as they have dropped six of eight games and are 14-24 since July 29. Pittsburgh remained 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League but now has another team between them as Los Angeles climbed within one-half game of the Cardinals.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Root Sports (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Chris Rusin (0-2, 9.00 ERA) vs. Penguins LH Jeff Locke (0-1, 4.82)
Rusin enters his third major-league start in search of his first victory. After losing his debut at Milwaukee on Aug. 21 despite allowing only one run in five frames, the 25-year-old exited his outing at Washington on Tuesday after surrendering five runs and eight hits in one-plus inning. Rusin spent the bulk of the season with Triple-A Iowa, going 8-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 25 starts.
Locke is coming off his first start of the season, a loss to Houston in which he yielded five runs and seven hits in five innings. The 24-year-old made two relief appearances in August, giving up just one hit over 4 1/3 scoreless frames. Locke posted a 10-5 record and 2.48 ERA in 24 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh CF Andrew McCutchen has reached base safely in 47 of 51 career games against the Cubs.
2. Cubs OF Brett Jackson is out until at least Tuesday with a bruised right knee, which he suffered Friday.
3. Chicago RHP Jason Berken, who was claimed off waivers from Baltimore on Friday, is expected to make his debut with the Cubs when he starts against Pittsburgh next Saturday.