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Sep 28, 2009 - 11:32 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Pittsburgh (58-96) at Chicago (81-74), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs came into the season expecting to compete for their first pennant since 1945. With one week remaining, they're still trying to guarantee they'll finish above .500.

The Cubs look to clinch a winning record for the third straight season Tuesday night when they face the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a four-game set at Wrigley Field.

Chicago (81-74) won the last two NL Central titles and finished with the best record in the league in 2008. The Cubs were optimistic they could build on those finishes and get back to the World Series in 2009, but injuries and poor play have caused them to fall well short of that goal.

"We came into this season with more expectations, and they weren't realized," manager Lou Piniella told the Cubs' official Web site. "It's not as easy to win as people think it is. You've got to stay healthy - that's the big thing in today's game.

The Cubs won six of seven before falling 5-1 to San Francisco on Sunday. They'll try again for win No. 82 in the opener of a season-ending seven-game homestand. A victory would give them three straight winning finishes for the first time since a streak of six from 1967-72.

The Cubs haven't accomplished that feat under the same manager since the 1930s under Charlie Grimm.

"It's been that long?" Piniella said. "Hopefully, this will be the start of more success and winning seasons and more success for this organization."

Piniella will turn to Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.68 ERA), who has also struggled to recapture last year's form. The right-hander was 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA in 2008.

However, Dempster has shown some improvement in his last four starts, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA. That stretch began with a Sept. 8 win over the Pirates in which he allowed four runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Dempster was solid again Thursday, yielding two runs in seven innings against San Francisco. Chicago gave him one run of support, and Dempster did not get a decision in the 3-2 win.

Chicago has won 26 of its last 32 meetings with Pittsburgh, including nine of 11 this season. The Cubs have also dominated their division rivals at Wrigley, winning 14 of 17 since Sept. 21, 2007.

The Pirates are finishing their major league-record 17th consecutive season with a losing record, but Monday's 11-1 victory over Los Angeles gave them a series win against the NL West leaders.

The Pirates will give the ball to Kevin Hart (4-8, 5.38), who is 1-7 with a 6.93 ERA in nine starts since being acquired from the Cubs in a five-player deal July 30.

The right-hander's only win as a Pirate came against Milwaukee on Aug. 17. He's lost six consecutive starts since, posting a 7.31 ERA.

Hart was tagged again Wednesday, surrendering eight runs and eight hits with three walks in 4 1-3 innings of a 12-2 loss to Cincinnati.

He didn't fare well in his first start against his former club Sept. 9, giving up four runs and six hits with six walks in five innings of an 8-5 defeat in Pittsburgh.