Chicago Cubs Set Pitching Rotation for Pittsburgh Pirates Series

The Chicago Cubs have set their pitching probables for their series with the Pittsburgh Pirates that starts on Thursday at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

First pitch for the first two games on Thursday and Friday is set for 6:05 p.m. central, with Saturday’s first pitch set for 6:10 p.m. Sunday’s finale will start at 12:35 p.m.

The Cubs will start Justin Steele (14-3, 2.80) on Thursday. He claimed the victory against Kansas City on Saturday, throwing six innings and giving up two runs and six hits. He also struck out seven hitters for the third straight start. He remains the Cubs’ best starter right now, with a 5-1 record and a 3.32 ERA in his last seven starts, during which he’s struck out 46 and walked nine.

The Pirates have not finalized their probable starter for Thursday’s game.

Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 3.83) is set to start on Friday. He claimed the victory in his last start against Kansas City on Sunday, throwing 6.1 innings and allowing one earned run on five hits. He struck out three and walked one. In his last seven starts he has gone 2-2 with a 4.20 ERA, with 27 strikeouts and seven walks.

Hendricks should face the Pirates’ Mitch Keller (10-8, 4.22), who won his last start against Minnesota on Saturday. He threw six innings in that game, striking out 12 while allowing seven hits and two earned runs. That was his first win in his last seven starts, as he is 1-4 with a 6.98 ERA in that span.

Javier Assad (2-2, 3.13) is expected to start Saturday’s game. He took a no-decision for the Cubs against Detroit on Monday, throwing 5.1 innings and giving up five hits and two earned runs. He struck out four and walked two. He’s pitched well since joining the rotation full-time, as he is 2-2 with a 2.28 ERA in his last seven games (four starts).

The Pirates have not finalized their probable starter for Saturday.

Drew Smyly (9-9, 5.28) should start on Sunday for Chicago. He took a loss in his return to the rotation against Detroit on Tuesday, giving up eight hits and seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings. He struck out four and walked three. He’ll get another shot to turn around his recent form, as he is 2-2 with a 8.71 ERA in his last seven games (three starts).

Smyly is expected to face Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter (1-7, 4.53). Falter will make his 11th start this season for the Pirates, and it will be his fifth appearance since being recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 5. In his last start against St. Louis on Monday he went six innings and claimed the victory. He allowed three hits and an earned run, walked two and struck out eight.

After the four-game series at Pittsburgh, the Cubs return home to host Milwaukee starting on Monday.

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