Cubs scouting report

Posted July 22, 2012 8:54 pm

Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet Monday and Tuesday; WGN Wednesday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs’ Jeff Samardzija (6-8) vs. Erik Bedard (5-10) Monday at 6:05 p.m.; Paul Maholm (8-6) vs. James McDonald (10-3) Tuesday at 6:05 p.m.; Ryan Dempster (5-4) vs. Kevin Correia (7-6) Wednesday at 11:35 a.m.

At a glance: This is the Cubs’ second trip into Pittsburgh. The Pirates swept three in late May. The teams will meet in Chicago next week. The Pirates are battling the Reds for the top spot in NL Central, and unlike last year, they show no signs of fading. Andrew McCutchen is an MVP candidate with a hitting line entering Sunday of .371/.426/.644 for an OPS of 1.070. He had 22 homers and 65 RBI. The Pirates entered the day fourth in the NL in homers. They also were fifth in ERA (3.52), while the Cubs were 14th (4.34). Maholm pitched for the Pirates from 2005-11. He leads the Cubs in victories.

Next: St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday

— Bruce Miles

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