Cubs and Bucs - Locke Looks to Even Series, Notes & Lineup

Today's Game: Jeff Locke faces off against Travis Wood. Locke's last start against the Cubs was rocky, as he was touched up for four runs in five frames. Wood wasn't a whole lot better in his outing against the Bucs, giving up three runs in his five frames in a game the Cubbies eventually won with a late rally against The Shark, 9-8. The game begins at 8:05 and will be carried by Root Sports and 93.7 The Fan.

Today's Lineup: Josh Harrison 3B, Jordy Mercer SS, Cutch CF, Corey Hart 1B, Starling Marte LF, Neil Walker 2B, Fran Cervelli C, Sean Rodriguez RF, Locke P.

Jeff Locke (photo: Associated Press)

El Coffee and Pedro are out - both lefties, so sera, sera. The bake-and-shake lineups have done OK for Clint so far this year. We'll see how Locke Ness Monster does; he's traditionally had a tough time against da Cubbies.

• The Kid still has a bit to go to match his longest hitting streak - he's at 10 games now; but his best was an 18-gamer in 2010.
• With his next home run, Pedro will tie Hall-of-Famer Paul Waner and outfielder Bill Robinson for 17th place on Pittsburgh’s all-time home run list with 109. After them, Bobby Bo is next on the list with 114 bombs.
• Did ya know:..AJ Burnett has defeated all 30 teams in MLB? Frankie Liriano is one away from joining him, but he needs a Marlin scalp to add to his belt. They're the one club that he's never faced. Pittsburgh has a home & home with Miami, so maybe this is the year Francisco joins the "I beat 'em all" club.(He was on the DL in June when the Bucs met them, and the other 2013-14 sets missed his rotation turn)
• Andrew Lambo has a 25% line drive rate but just an .063 BABIP. No wonder he's hitting .045.
• Edinson Volquez is 2-2 as a Royal - with a 1.91 ERA/2.55 FIP. Eddie started serving his five-day suspension for a Royal brawl on Monday as he's fitting right in with KC.