The Friday MLB schedule will get underway with a matinee between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago Cubs from Wrigley Field. The Pirates (48-86) have lost three straight games and are sitting in last place in the NL Central Division standings. Last night, Pittsburgh 1B Colin Moran hit a three-run blast during the first inning of a 6-5 road loss against Chicago in 11 innings.
Twenty-nine year old lefty Steven Brault (0-3 4.57 ERA) will make his sixth start of the season. The Pirates have lost all five of Brault’s starts and he has allowed 11 runs over his first 21 plus frames.
The Chicago Cubs have won three straight games and are two games above .500 at home. During Thursday's home victory, Sergio Alcantara collected three hits and scored the winning run on an error. Ian Happ and Rafael Ortega each went deep for the Cubs, who improved to 60-75 on the season.
The Cubs will give the nod to twenty-nine year old righty Alec Mills (6-6 4.32 ERA) on Friday. Last time out, Mills allowed just four hits in eight scoreless innings during a 7-0 road victory against the White Sox.
