Pirates Visit Windy City, Kuhl v Montgomery & Notes

Today: The game starts at 2:20 and will be carried by AT&T SportsNet and 93.7 The Fan. It's also on MLB Network for out-of-market fans.

Pitchers: RHP Chad Kuhl (4-3, 3.86) kicks it off against LHP Mike Montgomery (1-1, 3.89). Chad is rounding into form. He's been charged with just four runs in his last three starts covering 18 innings and has posted a 2.80 ERA in his last six outings. The Cubs have booted him around - Kuhl is 1-5/7.02 in eight career starts against them. But in his one start this campaign, he went six innings and was only tagged for a run. Last year was a different tale as he slashed 1-2/6.35 in four starts. Montgomery has been spot-starting, taking Yu Darvish's spot, and done pretty well. He whipped Kuhl last week, tossing 5-2/3 frames of two-hit, shutout ball with five whiffs, although the Pirates did push three runs across in two frames against him as a reliever in April.

Chad does the twirling (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Lineup: Josh Harrison 2B, Austin Meadows RF, Starling Marte CF, Fran Cervelli C, Corey Dickerson LF, David Freese 1B, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy Mercer SS & Chad Kuhl P. Red Beard against a lefty again; praise the Lord and pass the ammunition. Amore is at cleanup again and AM replaces Gregory against the LHP.

Notes:

• First the red hot Dodgers and now the equally sizzlin' Chicago nine which has won 9-of-11. 
• Richard Rodriguez has been placed on the DL with right shoulder discomfort; Dovydas Neverauskas was called up to replace him. Dovy was toasted earlier in the year, but the Pirates identified a mechanical issue that he was to work on at Indy. Seems to have helped; his Indy slash was 1-2-2/1.17 w/31 K in 23 IP and a 0.957 WHIP. Walks have been his only concern(4.3/nine innings).
• Starling Marte has swiped three bases in the last two games and has gone 13-for-16 in stolen base attempts this season. Marte has 194 career stolen bases
• Bob Nightengale of USA Today thinks the Bucs and Cubs are turning into a nice little rivalry. 
• Second round pick, prep RHP Braxton Ashcraft, is also going to sign with the Buccos and forego his college commit per Texas station KXXV, joining competitive balance selection RHP Gunnar Hoglund, a Florida HS ace.