Pirates bring win streak into matchup with the Cubs

Pittsburgh Pirates (74-73, third in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (81-66, second in the NL Central)

Chicago; Friday, 2:20 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Wilber Dotel (1-4, 4.41 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 34 strikeouts); Cubs: Shota Imanaga (9-10, 3.91 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 152 strikeouts)

LINE: Cubs -196, Pirates +155

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates aim to keep their four-game win streak alive when they visit the Chicago Cubs.

Chicago has a 41-31 record in home games and an 81-66 record overall. The Cubs are 22-8 in games when they did not allow a home run.

Pittsburgh is 74-73 overall and 36-39 in road games. The Pirates have the fourth-best team batting average in MLB play at .253.

The teams square off Friday for the 11th time this season. The season series is tied 5-5.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with a .281 batting average, and has 28 doubles, seven triples, 41 home runs, 76 walks and 97 RBIs. Tyrone Taylor is 13 for 28 with a home run and six RBIs over the past 10 games.

Nick Gonzales has a .305 batting average to lead the Pirates, and has 25 doubles, a triple and six home runs. Brandon Lowe is 14 for 38 with a home run and two RBIs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Cubs: 4-6, .246 batting average, 5.27 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Pirates: 8-2, .271 batting average, 3.26 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs

INJURIES: Cubs: Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (blister), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Ben Brown: 60-Day IL (neck), Gavin Hollowell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Dansby Swanson: 10-Day IL (side), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Phil Maton: 60-Day IL (knee), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Pirates: Braxton Ashcraft: 15-Day IL (arm), Isaac Mattson: 15-Day IL (hip), Kirby Yates: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Endy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (hip), Mitch Keller: 60-Day IL (arm), Ryan O'Hearn: 10-Day IL (quadricep)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.