Cubs vs. Pirates: Hendricks vs. Musgrove (Game 86)
CHC (45-40): RHP Kyle Hendricks (7-5, 3.36 ERA)
PIT (40-43): RHP Joe Musgrove (6-7, 4.27 ERA)
First pitch 6:05pmCDT
Kyle Hendricks returns from his IL stint just in time to help the bullpen recover from yesterday's blowout loss. Hendrick's last start was probably his second worst of the season, and the news of his shoulder impingement followed hot on the heels of that loss to the Dodgers. Current Pirates are 35-147 against him with a collective .650 OPS. Polanco, 10-28 with two homeruns, is on the IL for this series. Joe Musgrove is 1-1 vs. the Prof.Musgrove has built on last year's success with more of the same, getting ground balls and keeping his walks low. His fastball velocity is down a touch this year, but he's been just as effective. As a group, the Cubs are only 15-83 off of him with a .522 OPS. Rizzo is 0-10 and Javy 1-12. Descalso is 3-7. In both his career and this season, lefties have had much better success off of Musgrove.
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