Game Sixty-One – Cubs (25-35) vs. Pirates (29-33)
- Game Time – 6:05pm CDT
- Coverage – TV: WCIU – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channels 184, 844
- Location – PNC Park, Pittsburgh
Edwin Jackson (4-5, 4.59/1.46/3.53) vs. Charlie Morton (2-7, 3.31/1.28/4.03)
The Cubs begin a very challenging three-city, 10-game road trip tonight with the first of four with the Pirates. The Cubs stay in Pennsylvania and will spend the weekend in Philadelphia taking on Ryne Sandberg’s Phillies. The trip concludes next Wednesday with the last of three in Miami.
Pittsburgh enters play tonight just three games ahead of the Cubs for fourth place in the NL Central. The Pirates have not played up to expectations and Neal Huntington is getting a lot of heat to call-up their top prospect, Gregory Polanco.
The Cubs have won two of the first six games (2-4) against the Pirates this season and have a chance to climb out of the cellar over the next four games … and put a dent into their road win-loss record (10-21).
After tonight’s matchup of Edwin Jackson and Charlie Morton, Travis Wood and Francisco Liriano are scheduled for Tuesday night. Jason Hammel is expected to face Brandon Cumpton on Wednesday with Jeff Samardzija and Edinson Volquez set to go in the finale on Thursday night.
The road trip all starts with Edwin Jackson …
Edwin Jackson is coming off a rough start against the Mets. Jackson might have picked up a victory but he pitched poorly and combined with Daisuke Matsuzaka, the starting pitching that night closely resembled pitching performances seen in the lower level of the minor leagues. Jackson lasted five innings and gave up four runs, one earned, on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
Jackson has been very consistent over his last five starts. Jackson has had one bad outing then one good outing for nearly a month. If he stays true to form, the Cubs could receive a good game from Jackson tonight.
The road has not been very kind to Edwin Jackson this season. Jackson is 1-4 in six starts outside of Wrigley Field with a 6.12 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP and will make his third start of the year against the Pirates.
The Pirates had their way with Jackson in his first two starts of the year. Edwin Jackson has two no decisions but allowed eight runs, seven earned, on 11 hits with eight walks and nine strikeouts in 10 innings (6.30 ERA, 1.90 WHIP). For his career, Jackson is 6-2 in 12 starts against the Pirates with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP … at PNC Park, 1-2 in six starts with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.
Pirates Career Numbers against Edwin Jackson
Charlie Morton has struggled with his command of late. Morton has walked a lot of batters (11) in his last three starts and the free passes have shortened his outings. Morton beat the Padres his last time out after allowing two runs on three hits in five innings. Morton struck out nine batters and walked three.
Charlie Morton has been very good at home this year. Morton is 1-3 in six starts at PNC with a 2.39 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Morton faces the Cubs for the second time this season. In his first two games, Morton has two no decisions while holding the Cubs to five runs on 12 hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings (3.75 ERA, 1.17 WHIP). Morton is 2-4 in 11 career starts against the Cubs with a 4.68 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Charlie Morton
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