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MLB : ATS Matchup
Wednesday 8/5/2015Line$ LineOU LineScore
CHICAGO CUBS  HAREN )
 
PITTSBURGH  LOCKE )
+1.5  -170

-1.5  +150
+130

-140

7.5ov
 
5
Final
7

CHICAGO CUBS (58 - 47) at PITTSBURGH (61 - 44)
No Previous GameView Next Game
Wednesday, 8/5/2015 7:05 PM
DAN HAREN (R) vs. JEFF LOCKE (L)
Board OpeningLatest
 LineTotalLineTotal
951CHICAGO CUBS+110Ov 7.5,-110+120Ov 7.5,+105
952PITTSBURGH-120Un 7.5,-110-130Un 7.5,-125
ADVANCED TEAM STATS
CHICAGO CUBS - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games58-47+1.741-573.90.2380.3080.3730.6813.70.2370.2920.3760.667
Road Games31-23+7.824-264.50.2480.3150.3930.7083.80.2440.2980.3770.675
vs Left-handed Starters14-8+4.910-104.20.2410.3240.3470.6704.00.2460.3000.3880.689
Past 7 Games6-1+4.51-53.90.2530.3280.4030.7322.40.2000.2560.2840.541
Grass Games58-47+1.741-573.90.2380.3080.3730.6813.70.2370.2920.3760.667
Night Games39-25+13.427-334.20.2500.3190.4000.7193.70.2370.2960.3660.662
Division26-21+2.420-234.00.2520.3200.3830.7034.20.2450.3040.3770.681
CHICAGO CUBS - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games3.90.2380.308105356484916515950.3733873629677175981717885
Road Games4.50.2480.315541921476989540.3932321895153739938414535
Lefty Starters4.20.2410.32422733177372120.3478789204171721711176
CHICAGO CUBS - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games3.351.257332.71331242922512631524-18281565.1%
Road Games3.311.304163.36460148106514910-1018772%

PITTSBURGH - Current Season Performance
 Team RecordsTeamOpponent
 W-LUnitsO-URunsAvgOBPSLGOPSRunsAvgOBPSLGOPS
All Games61-44+8.545-504.10.2560.3080.3850.6923.60.2510.3070.3630.670
Home Games35-18+10.424-264.00.2560.3090.3870.6963.20.2380.2900.3440.634
vs Right-handed Starters51-35+10.237-404.10.2510.3040.3830.6873.50.2510.3060.3630.670
Past 7 Games4-3+0.13-34.90.2370.3040.3790.6835.60.3200.3810.4840.865
Grass Games61-44+8.545-504.10.2560.3080.3850.6923.60.2510.3070.3630.670
Night Games40-32+0.233-334.00.2530.3060.3790.6853.90.2580.3140.3750.689
Division19-27-13.321-203.70.2370.3000.3650.6644.30.2660.3280.3900.718
PITTSBURGH - Team Hitting and Fielding Statistics
Team BattingTeam BattingTeam Fielding
 RunsAVGOBPGABH2B3BHRSLGRBIBBSOSBLOBGIDPERRDPOSB
All Games4.10.2560.308105362792719313830.38540427385268745867711994
Home Games4.00.2560.309531770453908420.3872031373863135947305939
Righty Starters4.10.2510.30486297174716110700.38332722469651598726110574
PITTSBURGH - Bullpen Pitching Statistics
 ERAWHIPIPRERHHRBBSOW-LSVBSVPct.
All Games2.841.233319.71141012943010027816-1336980%
Home Games2.661.062165.75149136164013913-420483.3%
SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
CHICAGO CUBS - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/22/2015HENDRICKS(R)@ CINCINNATILEAKE(R)1-9L-1158 unO5511380
7/22/2015BEELER(R)@ CINCINNATICINGRANI(L)6-5W1108.5 unO1210113120
7/24/2015LESTER(L)PHILADELPHIAWILLIAMS(R)3-5L-2659 unU91001260
7/25/2015ARRIETA(R)PHILADELPHIAHAMELS(L)0-5L-2106 ovU02111100
7/26/2015HAMMEL(R)PHILADELPHIANOLA(R)5-11L-1807 evO6201780
7/27/2015HENDRICKS(R)COLORADODE LA ROSA(L)9-8W-1407 unO10411371
7/28/2015BEELER(R)COLORADOFLANDE(L)2-7L-1508.5 ovO7701070
7/29/2015LESTER(L)COLORADOBUTLER(R)3-2W-2208 evU650530
7/30/2015ARRIETA(R)@ MILWAUKEENELSON(R)5-2W-1357 ovP971660
7/31/2015HAMMEL(R)@ MILWAUKEEJUNGMANN(R)4-1W-1258 unU980781
8/1/2015HENDRICKS(R)@ MILWAUKEEGARZA(R)4-2W-1408.5 unU560550
8/2/2015RICHARD(L)@ MILWAUKEELOHSE(R)4-3W1009.5 unU971860
8/4/2015ARRIETA(R)@ PITTSBURGHHAPP(L)5-0W-1307 unU14150441
8/5/2015HAREN(R)@ PITTSBURGHLOCKE(L) 
8/6/2015HAMMEL(R)SAN FRANCISCOHESTON(R) 
8/7/2015LESTER(L)SAN FRANCISCOLEAKE(R) 
8/8/2015HENDRICKS(R)SAN FRANCISCOCAIN(R) 
8/9/2015ARRIETA(R)SAN FRANCISCOPEAVY(R) 
8/11/2015HAREN(R)MILWAUKEEJUNGMANN(R) 
8/12/2015 MILWAUKEE  

PITTSBURGH - Schedule
 Team StatsOpp Stats
DateTeam StarterOpponentOpp StarterScoreW/LLineTot.O/UHLOBEHLOBE
7/22/2015MORTON(R)@ KANSAS CITYVOLQUEZ(R)1-5L1157.5 evU870960
7/23/2015LIRIANO(L)WASHINGTONFISTER(R)7-3W-1857 unO1370670
7/24/2015LOCKE(L)WASHINGTONSCHERZER(R)7-5W+1206.5 unO1251760
7/25/2015BURNETT(R)WASHINGTONGONZALEZ(L)3-9L-1457 ovO7521491
7/26/2015COLE(R)WASHINGTONROSS(R)3-1W-1607 unU530751
7/28/2015MORTON(R)@ MINNESOTAPELFREY(R)8-7W-1059.5 unO11921271
7/29/2015LIRIANO(L)@ MINNESOTASANTANA(R)10-4W-1308 unO13821293
7/30/2015BURNETT(R)@ CINCINNATIHOLMBERG(L)5-15L-1509 unO119119130
7/31/2015LOCKE(L)@ CINCINNATILORENZEN(R)5-4W-1259 unP76010100
8/1/2015COLE(R)@ CINCINNATIIGLESIAS(R)3-4L-1407.5 ovU880970
8/2/2015MORTON(R)@ CINCINNATISAMPSON(R)3-0W-1409 unU340681
8/4/2015HAPP(L)CHICAGO CUBSARRIETA(R)0-5L+1207 unU44114150
8/5/2015LOCKE(L)CHICAGO CUBSHAREN(R) 
8/7/2015COLE(R)LA DODGERSKERSHAW(L) 
8/8/2015MORTON(R)LA DODGERSLATOS(R) 
8/9/2015LIRIANO(L)LA DODGERSWOOD(L) 
8/11/2015HAPP(L)@ ST LOUISMARTINEZ(R) 
8/12/2015 @ ST LOUIS  
KEY GAME INFORMATION
CHICAGO CUBS: CHICAGO (AP) - Standing in the shade on a beautiful afternoon in Arizona, Jon Lester embraced the question that hovers over the Chicago Cubs these days.
When it comes to all those highly touted prospects, Lester said the time is now.
''When I played in Boston, we didn't have time to grow up,'' the left-hander explained. ''You just had to show up and play, and each year you're expected to win, so that's how I feel. Every year they should come in and expect to be not only division winners, but World Series champions. If you don't have that mindset, then I think you're playing for the wrong reasons.''
Heady stuff for a franchise known mostly for futility, but the Cubs think it's a new era after five consecutive losing seasons.
The shift in thinking for president of baseball operations Theo Epstein and the rest of the front office was evident during an aggressive offseason that included the addition of Joe Maddon after the veteran manager opted out of his contract with Tampa Bay, and a $155 million, six-year contract to add Lester.
The hiring of Maddon meant dumping Rick Renteria after just one year, and Lester's deal is a significant investment for a pitcher who turned 31 in January. But looking at their good young core and rich minor league system, the Cubs felt it was time to act.
''There's a lot of talent here. Now it's about executing,'' Lester said. ''It's going out and playing good baseball for six months. It's hard to do. But that's why we're here. We're going to figure it out as we go.''
The Cubs, who also acquired center fielder Dexter Fowler and catcher Miguel Montero in trades, should be much improved after their 73-89 finish in 2014. But going from last place to the playoffs could depend more on the development of Chicago's top prospects than its newest players.
Jorge Soler takes over in right field after making his major league debut in August and drawing raves for his approach at the plate in the season's final month. Javier Baez, Arismendy Alcantara and Kris Bryant - all 20-something position players with considerable potential - also are key to the Cubs' chance for a breakthrough.
''You don't really read enough about their personalities and their makeup. That to me makes them real prospects,'' Maddon said. ''There's a lot of guys who throw 95 mph and hit balls out of sight. But with the makeup, personality and character ... that's what really turns me on to this group.''
Here are a few more things to watch with the Cubs:
UNDER THE RADAR: Jake Arrieta was a pleasant surprise, finishing with a 10-5 record and a sparkling 2.53 ERA in 25 starts last year. He struck out 167 in 156 2-3 innings and allowed just five homers.
Arrieta, 29, began last season on the disabled list with right shoulder tightness but looked healthy this spring and could team with Lester to give Chicago a potent top of the rotation.
''There's always room to improve. There's always things to get better at,'' Arrieta said. ''There's a right way to go about doing that, and I think that there's some things that I can clean up and kind of use in regard to what I did last season to make it even better.''
AT THE PLATE: The Cubs struck out a major league-high 1,477 times last season, and their .300 on-base percentage was 28th among 30 teams. They had six players with at least 100 strikeouts.
The addition of Fowler, who had a .375 on-base percentage last season with Houston, should help the top of the order, and the pressure is on new hitting coach John Mallee to help Baez and the other young hitters make more consistent contact.
IN THE DUGOUT: Maddon is one of the game's most creative managers, and the move to the NL and one of the game's most quirky ballparks in Wrigley Field could lead to all sorts of different lineups. He could put the pitcher in the eighth slot in the lineup in some situations. Pretty much everything is on the table when it comes to Maddon.
IN THE FIELD: The majors' second-oldest ballpark is undergoing a major renovation that could affect its notoriously fickle wind, which can turn innocent fly balls into homers and long drives into outs. A massive new videoboard is expected to be in place by opening day, but the bleachers will be under construction for the first part of the season. How the work on the ballpark affects the the field remains to be seen.
PITTSBURGH: PITTSBURGH (AP) - The scenario was familiar. The destination not so much.
A veteran player with not much time left leaving millions of dollars on the table for one last run to glory. Only A.J. Burnett didn't walk away from his $12.75 million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies for Los Angeles, Washington or St. Louis.
Nope, the 38-year-old well-traveled (and well tattooed) pitcher practically sprinted to Pittsburgh. His arrival in 2012 marked a sea change in the once-floundering organization's direction. His return three years later signals - he hopes - the end of the team's slow but steady slog from downtrodden afterthought to world champion. And he's not kidding.
''I want to win a ring and I want to win a ring in Pittsburgh,'' Burnett said.
The Pirates are as close to being in the conversation as they've been in nearly a quarter century. And they've opened up their wallets, at least a little, to get there. Pittsburgh made Francisco Liriano the highest-paid free agent in team history when they signed lefthander to a three-year, $39-million deal in the offseason to continue the career resurgence that began when they took a two-year flier on him in 2013. And while Burnett took a cut, he isn't exactly going broke. He'll make $8 million to work as the third man in the rotation behind Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
Pittsburgh even spent $5 million for the rights to sign Korean infielder Jung-Ho Kang, who hit 40 home runs on the other side of the world last year and gives the Pirates an intriguing if unproven option should shortstop Jordy Mercer falter or second baseman Neil Walker's back flare up.
General manager Neal Huntington remains adamant his team's budget will never compare to those of clubs in larger markets but allows there is ''more margin for error'' than in years' past.
''We've built a deeper club because of the money allocated to us,'' he said. ''But we need to continue to grow and mature. We want to put ourselves in a position to win the World Series.''
There are worse places to start than in Pittsburgh, which backed up its breakthrough year in 2013 with a second straight postseason berth in 2014. The playoff run ended abruptly against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the NL wild card game. Yet the point had been made. The Pirates aren't going anywhere.
''It would've been easy to say 2013 was a fluke and we just got lucky,'' centerfielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''But we showed up in `14 and were able to do the same thing. We know we're for real. And other teams know they just can't come in (thinking), `All right, we're going to beat the Pirates.' We're not that team anymore.''
They're also not where they want to be, at least not yet. A National League Central title would avoid the fickleness of a one-game scenario. Pittsburgh believes it's built to withstand the rigors of October.
Here are the keys to getting there:
---
THE OTHER FRANCISCO
The Pirates' budget might be growing, but they still couldn't afford to keep catcher Russell Martin, who parlayed his tremendous 2014 into a $82 million deal with Toronto. Pittsburgh prepared for Martin's departure by trading for longtime Yankees' backup catcher Francisco Cervelli. When healthy Cervelli is an adequate defensive replacement with a decent if not powerful bat. If he can handle the pitching staff and control the basepaths, any offense he provides would be a plus.
---
SPEED TO BURN
Perennial MVP candidate McCutchen anchors one of baseball's most athletic outfields. Starling Marte surged toward the end of a bumpy 2014 and Gregory Polanco is a raw but talented work in progress. Pittsburgh felt confident enough in Polanco's progress to trade Travis Snider to Baltimore.
---
PEDRO'S PROGRESS
Pedro Alvarez moves across the infield to first base in hopes of salvaging his career after developing a serious case of the yips at third. If his can reclaim the groove that helped him mash 36 homers in 2013, the Pirates can live with whatever growing pains may come with the switch.
---
KANG SHOW
Kang (pronounced ''Gahng'') doesn't lack for confidence. He told reporters in Korea he believes he can supplant Mercer at shortstop. It may take longer than he thought after a sluggish spring training.
---
THE VANIMAL
Vance Worley, like Liriano, Burnett and the since departed Edinson Volquez, thrived under pitching coach Ray Searage's mentoring last spring. He was arguably Pittsburgh's best starter down the stretch and a strong spring gives him a leg up in the battle Jeff Locke for the fifth starter spot.
PREVIEW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (CHICAGO CUBS-PITTSBURGH) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Cubs-Pirates Preview* ======================

By MATT BECKER STATS Editor

Chicago (57-47) at Pittsburgh (61-43), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs opted against dealing coveted prospects to acquire one of the top-line starting pitchers on the market at last week's trade deadline. They didn't stay quiet, however, as they still managed to make a trade to improve the back end of their rotation for a playoff push.

Veteran Dan Haren will make his Cubs debut Wednesday night as Chicago looks to win seven in a row for the first time in four years by again knocking around the Pittsburgh Pirates' Jeff Locke in the finale of this rain-shortened two-game series at PNC Park.

While the Cubs' top four starters of Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks have combined for a 3.11 ERA, the team has lacked stability from the No. 5 spot with five pitchers taking turns to combine for a 5.05 ERA. Chicago (58-47) believes it has found a reliable option at the back end with Friday's acquisition of Haren from Miami for two minor leaguers.

The 34-year-old Haren (7-7, 3.42 ERA), now on his fifth team in four seasons, led the Marlins in starts and has his lowest ERA since 2011. He ranks 10th in the NL in WHIP (1.09) and went six innings and gave up one run in three of his final five starts for Miami.

"He can pitch, that's the main thing," catcher Miguel Montero, who played with Haren in Arizona, told MLB's official website. "He knows he doesn't have the stuff that he used to, so to survive, he has to pitch, and he does pitch."

The right-hander has been susceptible to the long ball, though, allowing 1.47 homers per nine innings for the league's fourth-worst mark. His fielding-independent pitching rate of 4.59 is also the NL's fifth-worst.

This will be his first start against the Pirates since last July and he's gone 0-3 with a 7.15 ERA in his last four against them.

The Cubs won 5-0 on Tuesday to pull three back of wild card-leading Pittsburgh (61-44) and maintain a half-game lead over San Francisco for the second spot. The Pirates, who lost for just the third time in 14 home games, remained 5 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading St. Louis.

Anthony Rizzo stayed hot by matching a career high with four hits and Starlin Castro had a pair of run-scoring doubles. Rizzo is batting .500 with seven extra-base hits during Chicago's six-game winning streak.

"It's been fun to see how this has developed over the last few years to the point where now we're in contention and playing important games," he said.

Rizzo appears primed for another big game as the Cubs face Locke (6-6, 4.21) looking to push their winning streak to seven for the first time since July 31-Aug. 6, 2011.

Locke is 0-1 with a 10.22 ERA in three starts against Chicago this season - allowing 21 hits and nine walks over 12 1-3 innings - and has a 3.48 ERA against everyone else. Not surprisingly, he been hit hard by nearly every Cubs regular. Castro is 4 for 6 in this season's matchups, Rizzo is 3 for 8 with a homer and double and Dexter Fowler is 4 for 5.

Another sign of trouble is Locke hasn't been pitching well lately. The left-hander is 1-1 with a 5.19 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break after going 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in his previous six.

Starling Marte had two hits of Pittsburgh's four hits Tuesday and is batting .377 in the last 13 games. He is hitting .389 in 11 games against the Cubs this season with the Pirates losing seven.


Last Updated: 3/28/2024 4:56:12 PM EST.


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