Pittsburgh @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 15, 2012 ) Pittsburgh 7, Chi. Cubs 6

The Pittsburgh Pirates finally stopped their slide and got back in the win column. Now they need a few more. The Pirates are still holding out hope not only for a winning season but a playoff berth. They enter Sunday's action two games behind St. Louis and Los Angeles for the second wild card spot in the National League. The Chicago Cubs are trying to play the spoiler while ending their season on a high note.

Pittsburgh had dropped a season-high seven straight and nearly made it eight on Saturday, when Joel Hanrahan allowed two runs in the ninth before striking out Dave Sappelt with the bases loaded to clinch a 7-6 victory. The pitching that had carried the Pirates in the first four months, Hanrahan included, has not been nearly as dependable over the last month. Andrew McCutchen, who hit his 28th homer on Saturday, continues to be the bright spot for the club. Chicago has won six of its last eight games and will finish the season with 11 of its last 17 at home, where it is 35-35.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (0-1, 4.11 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Chris Volstad (3-10, 5.99)

Locke, who is still searching for his first major-leagur win, will be making his third start of the season and seventh of his career. The 24-year-old left-hander had his best chance last Sunday at home against the Cubs, when he allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings while striking out six. He did not factor in the decision as Pittsburgh suffered a 4-2 loss. Locke surrendered solo home runs to Josh Vitters and Anthony Recker in that contest.

Volstad is still trying to secure himself a spot in Chicago’s future and has been better lately, posting his three wins over his last four starts. The burly right-hander walked five in as many innings at Houston on Monday but limited the damage to one run on four hits while earning the victory. Volstad has struggled against the Pirates in the past, going 2-2 with a 7.45 ERA in four starts - all when he was with the then-Florida Marlins.

WALK-OFFS

1. McCutchen has four homers in the last six games and has boosted his average back up to .341, just shy of Melky Cabrera’s major-league leading .346.

2. Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano drove in two more runs to reach 99. He has not driven in 100 runs since 2005.

3. Hanrahan had not allowed more than one run in 13 straight appearances before being reached for two on Saturday.