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Cubs-Pirates Preview

Jun 30, 2009 - 3:32 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Chicago (35-37) at Pittsburgh (35-40), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs' sub-.500 record suggests they've underachieved, but without their stellar starting pitching they could be in a far deeper hole in the NL Central.

Despite the Cubs' ugly road record, the starters have been even better away from Wrigley Field.

A night after Rich Harden's best performance of the season, the Cubs will hope for a similar effort from Ted Lilly as they continue a three-game series Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Chicago (36-37) hasn't run away with the Central like many expected, and its poor road record (15-24) has been a major detriment to the defending division champions.

The Cubs, though, only find themselves 3 1/2 games out of first place largely thanks to a starting staff that's been one of baseball's best. Chicago's rotation has a 3.83 ERA that ranks fourth in the majors, and the starters have posted a 3.24 ERA since May 26.

Despite the Cubs' road struggles, the rotation's ERA has been nearly a half-run lower away from home (3.61) than at Wrigley (4.08). Harden delivered his best outing of 2009 in Monday's series opener against the Pirates (35-41), allowing one run over seven innings while striking out nine in a 3-1 victory.

"We need to try to string some wins together and take a shot at it," said Ryan Theriot, who hit his seventh homer, equaling his total from his first four years in the majors. "I really feel we're right where we want to be, with all the injuries we've had and the juggling of the lineup. We're right there in striking distance."

Lilly (7-5, 3.41 ERA) leads the Cubs in wins and strikeouts, but the staff's trend of road success hasn't carried over to the veteran left-hander. Lilly is 3-4 with a 4.96 ERA on the road as opposed to 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA at home.

His last start away from Chicago's North Side was his worst. Lilly gave up six runs and 10 hits - both season highs - over six innings in a 6-5 loss at Detroit on Thursday.

"It wasn't very good all around," Lilly told the Cubs' official Web site. "I made too many mistakes, period. I can't come up with one reason why. There's more than one to look at."

Four of the runs scored on two homers, and Lilly has been taken deep 16 times this season. He gave up five in four starts against the Pirates last year - with each homer coming at PNC Park - but went 2-0 with a 5.09 ERA.

Fortunately for Lilly, the Pirates haven't displayed much power this season. Pittsburgh's 49 homers are the second-fewest in the majors.

When the Pirates hit at least one homer this season, they're 22-13. If they don't go deep, however, they're just 13-28.

Pittsburgh has had somewhat of an all-or-nothing offense in general. The Pirates have scored at least 10 runs eight times this season - winning all eight - but Monday was the 19th time they've scored one run or fewer.

Twelve of those offensive outages have come against the NL Central, a big reason Pittsburgh is 10-22 within its division.

"The division is how you win the division," Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson said. "If you don't beat the teams in your division, you're not going to go anywhere."

Ross Ohlendorf (6-6, 4.75) has typically received solid support this season, but he didn't get much help Thursday against Cleveland. The right-hander pitched well, though, giving up two runs and five hits over seven innings and leaving without a decision in Pittsburgh's 3-2 comeback win.

Ohlendorf has never faced the Cubs.