Cubs @ Pirates: Series Thread (Games 47-49)
The Cubs took two out of three from the Cardinals in St. Louis and climbed to 1.5 game out of first place. Meanwhile, the Brewers trail the Cubs by only half a game. The Cubs will have a chance to take on the last place Pirates yet again. The season series stands at five and four in the Cubs' favor heading into the week. The Pirates will be doing their work without Colin Moran, Philip Ervan, and, of course, Ke'Bryan Hayes. The Cubs may miss Willson Contreras, depending on how he recovers from taking a fastball to the wrist from his battery-mate, Kimbrel. Jason Heyward remains on the IL, and team sparkplug Matt Duffy is working around some back pain. See below for the pitching matchups for the series.
Game 47, Tuesday, May 25, 5:35 pm central
CHC: RHP Jake Arrieta (4-4, 4.46 ERA)
PIT: TBA
Arrieta surrendered 7 hits and four earned runs to the Nationals in his last start. Things didn't look all that bad until Juan Soto took him deep in the fifth. Overall, it was still a solid second start after his return from a brief IL stint.
Pittsburgh has not yet announced their starter for this game. 27-year-old righty Cody Ponce is an option. He's been working in AAA so far this season and last appeared on May 19. He made five MLB appearances with the Pirates in 2020, including 2 starts. He took a loss on August 2 of last year, giving up one unearned run on one hit while recording only one out.
Game 48, Wednesday, May 26, 5:35 pm central
CHC: RHP Trevor Williams (2-2, 5.97 ERA)
PIT: RHP Wil Crowe (0-2, 4.91 ERA)
Williams's inconsistent work in May has earned him a quick hook of late. He was pulled with one out to go in the fifth inning during his last start despite allowing only two earned runs and striking out five. He's totalled only 13.1 innings in 4 May starts so far. His strikeout numbers remain promising, but his WHIP is far too high as a result of both too many walks and plenty of hard contact.
Crowe has made one relief appearance and one start against the Cubs so far this year, allowing 3 earned runs in 6.2 innings pitched. He has struggled with his control at times this season, averaging over 4 walks per nine innings.
Game 49, Thursday, May 27, 11:35 pm central
CHC: RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 4.74 ERA)
PIT: LHP Tyler Anderson (3-4, 4.73 ERA)
Hendricks earned the win and went 6.2 innings in his last start against St. Louis. His one blemish so far in May was a start against the Pirates in which they blooped and grounder-ed him to the tune of six runs, four earned, while averaging his lowest exit velocities in any single start of the season.
Anderson has already faced the Cubs twice and has split those two games. In his most recent start he allowed 9 earned runs to Atlanta in five innings pitched.
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