Scouting report: Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field

Posted September 23, 2018 1:00 am

TV:

NBC Sports Chicago Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; WGN Tuesday

Radio:

WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups:

The Cubs' Cole Hamels (4-1 with Cubs) vs. Jameson Taillon (13-9) Monday; Mike Montgomery (5-5) vs. Chris Archer (2-3 with Pirates) Tuesday; Jose Quintana (13-11) vs. Ivan Nova (9-9) Wednesday; Jon Lester (17-6) vs. Trevor Williams (14-9) Thursday. All games 7:05 p.m.

At a glance:

The Pirates have fallen out of contention, but for a team whose "window of opportunity" supposedly had closed, they're shooting for a season of .500 or better. They also can play major spoilers in the NL Central. Gregory Polanco leads Pittsburgh's offensive attack with a line of .254/.340/.499 with 23 home runs and 81 RBI entering Sunday. Josh Bell led the Bucs with a .361 on-base percentage. Archer is a former Cubs minor-league pitcher of the year. The Cubs look to be in the driver's seat in the division, with seven straight home games to finish the season. They slipped to fifth in the NL in runs scored and to 11 in homers entering Sunday.

St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday

- Bruce Miles

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