Cubs-Pirates Preview (April 10, 2021)

Chicago Cubs (4-3) at Pittsburgh Pirates (1-6), April 10, 6:35 p.m. RHP Zach Davies (1-0, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Mitch Keller (0-1, 9.00 ERA) PNC Park, Pittsburgh

STREAKY: The Pirates have lost six straight games after winning their first game of the season against the Cubs on April 1 … Since Pirates manager Derek Shelton became manager of the team in 2020, he has an overall record of 5-8 against the Cubs … The Cubs currently own the season series against the Pirates 3-1 … The Pirates are also looking for their first win at PNC Park in the 2021 season … The Pirates lead the all-time series between the Cubs with a record of 1292-1238.

RUN FASTER AND WALK FASTER: The only Pirates players to have stolen a base this season are Anthony Alford, Dustin Fowler, and Adam Frazier … Alford and Bryan Reynolds have been caught stealing once this season … Frazier, Gregory Polanco and Jacob Stallings lead the team in walks (5).

KELLER IS STILL HUNTING: Mitch Keller is making his second start of the 2021 campaign… As Keller is looking for his first win of the season, he is also still hunting to beat the Cubs for the first time in his career … In Keller’s four starts against the Cubs in his career, he has a record of 0-3 pitching 15 innings and recording an ERA of 7.20 … Keller will be looking to the first starting Pirates pitcher to record a win this season … Out of all the starting pitchers on the team, Keller has given up the fewest hits (2) … He is looking for his first win since July 26, 2020 when he defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 at Busch Stadium.

THE CUBS AND RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS: So far this season, the Cubs are 1-3 when facing right-handed pitchers and they are 3-0 when facing left-handed pitchers … With Keller being a right-handed pitcher, perhaps the Cubs will struggle.

WELCOME PACK TO PNC PARK ZACH DAVIES: Before Zach Davies joined the Cubs in 2021, he played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2015-19, so he is used to playing against the Pirates … He will start against the Pirates for the 16th time today as he has an overall record of 5-4 against them with an ERA of 4.34.

COLIN AND PHILLIP KEEP HITTING: Colin Moran and Phillip Evans lead the team in home runs (2) and hits (7) … Both players also have recorded 3 RBIs on the season … Moran leads the team with a .280 batting average (7-for-25) and a .379 OBP … Moran is also tied for first on the team with doubles (2).

KEEP ON SWINGING: While Kevin Newman leads the team in at-bats with 27 … Colin Moran has struck out 11 times this season which is the most on the team.

STAYING HEALTHY: Erik Gonzalez, Kevin Newman, Bryan Reynolds, Dustin Fowler and Colin Moran are the only Pirates player to appear in all seven games this season … Moran is the only player to start all seven games in the lineup … Will any of these players appear in all 162 games this season?

THE LONE TRIPLE: Adam Frazier has recorded the only Pirates triple of the season … He also leads the team in errors (2).

ALWAYS ROOM TO IMPROVE: The Pirates pitching staff has the highest ERA (6.83) in the NL … The pitching staff has also allowed the most home runs (14) in the NL ... The Pirates have struck out 69 times this season while producing only 46 hits … In seven games, the Pirates are being outscored 19-46 … No starting pitcher for the Pirates has pitched more than 5.1 IP in a game.