Cubs square off against the Pirates in series rubber match

Pittsburgh Pirates (71-81, fourth within the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (79-73, second within the NL Central)

Chicago; Thursday, 7:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Johan Oviedo (8-14, 4.27 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 147 strikeouts); Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (6-7, 3.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 86 strikeouts)

FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -169, Pirates +142; over/below is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates play on Thursday with the three-game sequence tied 1-1.

Chicago has a 79-73 document total and a 42-35 document at dwelling. Cubs hitters have a collective .329 on-base share, the sixth-best share in MLB play.

Pittsburgh is 71-81 total and 33-41 on the highway. The Pirates have a 53-6 document in video games after they have extra hits than their opponents.

Thursday’s sport is the thirteenth time these groups meet this season. The Cubs are up 10-2 within the season sequence.

TOP PERFORMERS: Cody Bellinger has 27 doubles, a triple and 26 dwelling runs for the Cubs. Dansby Swanson is 13-for-45 with three doubles, a triple, two dwelling runs and 5 RBI over the past 10 video games.

Bryan Reynolds has 31 doubles, 5 triples and 22 dwelling runs for the Pirates. Ke’Bryan Hayes is 15-for-42 with 4 doubles and a house run over the past 10 video games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 3-7, .279 batting common, 4.89 ERA, outscored by three runs

Pirates: 5-5, .251 batting common, 5.42 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Nick Madrigal: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Michael Fulmer: 15-Day IL (forearm), Jeimer Candelario: 10-Day IL (again), Adbert Alzolay: 15-Day IL (forearm), Brandon Hughes: 60-Day IL (knee), Nick Burdi: 60-Day IL (appendicitis), Codi Heuer: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ethan Roberts: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Pirates: Andrew McCutchen: 60-Day IL (achilles), Angel Perdomo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tucupita Marcano: 60-Day IL (knee), Vince Velasquez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Oneil Cruz: 60-Day IL (ankle), JT Brubaker: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jarlin Garcia: 60-Day IL (arm)

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The Related Press created this story utilizing expertise supplied by Information Skrive and knowledge from Sportradar.