Chicago @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( May 29, 2011 ) Pittsburgh 2, Chi. Cubs 3

THE STORY: It is not strange that the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs are 10 games apart in the standings. The odd part is that the Pirates are the ones hanging around the top of the National league Central while the Cubs scuffle along at the bottom. Over $90 million short of Chicago in total payroll, the Pirates nonetheless have morphed into a contender with their best first half since 1992. The Cubs, who snapped a three-game slide with a comeback victory Thursday, will try to carry over some of that momentum when they open a three-game series at PNC Park on Friday.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, ROOT, CSN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH James McDonald (5-4, 4.40 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 3.91 ERA).

McDonald has not allowed more than three earned runs in an outing since May 13. The 26-year-old Long Beach native has not been able to complete more than 6 2/3 innings in any of those outings, however, leaving him just 3-1 in that span. McDonald has made only two appearances – one start – against Chicago in his career, allowing a total of three runs on 10 hits in 6 2/3 frames.

Lopez has shifted back and forth between the bullpen and the rotation since joining the Cubs on May 30. He got the start against the White Sox on Sunday and turned in seven scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and striking out three without walking a batter to earn the win. Lopez has faced Pittsburgh just once in his career, earning a win with six strong innings on April 9, 2010.

ABOUT THE PIRATES (45-42): Pittsburgh reached four games over .500 this late in the season since its last winning season of 1992 following Tuesday’s victory over the Houston Astros. An 8-2 loss in Wednesday’s series finale snapped a three-game losing streak, but the Pirates are still assured of going into the All-Star break on Monday at least even. As it stands now, Pittsburgh is very much in the race in the Central, just one game behind the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. General manager Neal Huntington, manager Clint Hurdle and others met on Wednesday to discuss plans for the upcoming trade deadline, where for the first time in nearly two decades the Pirates plan to be buyers rather than sellers.

ABOUT THE CUBS (36-53): Only the Houston Astros have more losses than Chicago with only one weekend left before the break. The Cubs have found interesting ways to lose lately, highlighted by three straight to the Washington Nationals this week that included a walk-off wild pitch, a two-run error and a go-ahead suicide squeeze. But Chicago also showed some fight in the series, battling back from an 8-0 deficit Thursday to take the lead. The Nationals came back to tie it at 9-9, but again the Cubs found a way to score as Tony Campana beat out a possible inning-ending double play and stole second before crossing for the game-winner.

FINAL PITCH: The Cubs are slowly beginning to get some of their starting pitchers back. Ryan Dempster is scheduled to start on Saturday. Dempster, who missed Monday’s turn with back soreness and stomach problems, threw a side session Thursday and came through it in good shape. Carlos Zambrano, who has been on the disabled list since July 1 with back soreness, is scheduled to make a rehab start Friday for Class A Peoria.