Cubs get 2 lefty pitchers from Pirates in 5-player deal

Needing help in their bullpen, the Cubs acquired left-handed pitchers John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny from the Pittsburgh Pirates today for right-handed pitchers Kevin Hart and Jose Ascanio and Single-A Daytona infielder Josh Harrison.

Grabow will be added to the Cubs 25-man roster prior to Friday's game at Florida.

Gorzelanny, a native of Evergreen Park, will be sent to Triple-A Iowa.

The 30-year-old Grabow is 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA (18 ER/47.1 IP) in 45 relief appearances for the Pirates this season. He has posted a 2.22 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) and a .184 batting average against (18-for-98) in his last 25 appearances during the last two-plus months starting May 24. He has not allowed a run in 22 of the 25 outings, including 11 consecutive scoreless outings from June 24-July 22, covering 12.0 innings pitched.

Grabow has been especially tough in "close and late" situations this season, limiting opponents to a .212 batting average (22-for-104) in those spots. Overall he is limiting foes to a .246 batting average against, including a .234 mark by righthanders (29-for-124) and a .275 mark (14-for-51) by lefthanders.

Bruce Miles will have more on the trade later today.