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Cubs scouting report

Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park

TV: WGN Thursday and Sunday; Comcast SportsNet Friday and Saturday

Radio: WGN 720-AM

Pitching matchups: The Cubs’ Chris Rusin (2-3) vs. Jeff Locke (9-5) Thursday at 6:05 p.m.; Jake Arrieta (2-2) vs. Charlie Morton (7-4) Friday at 6:05 p.m.; Scott Baker (0-0) vs. Gerrit Cole (7-7) Saturday at 6:05 p.m.; Travis Wood (9-11) vs. Francisco Liriano (16-7) Sunday at 12:35 p.m.

At a glance: The Cubs are 5-7 against the Pirates, 2-4 at PNC Park, where they opened this season and will open next. The Pirates have clinched their first winning season since 1992 and are solidly in the playoff mix. Andrew McCutchen entered Wednesday leading the Bucs in hits with 173 and had a line of .326/.405/.519. Pedro Alvarez led in homers (32) and RBI (88). The Cubs have outscored and outhomered the Pirates, but Pittsburgh took a team ERA of 3.29 into Wednesday; that was third in the NL. The Cubs were at 3.94, which ranked 10th. Cubs outfielder Junior Lake entered Wednesday with 60 hits in his first 48 games to lead all major-league rookies since the all-star break.

Next: Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park, Monday-Thursday

— Bruce Miles

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