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Cubs-Pirates Preview

Jun 6, 2010 - 11:39 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (25-30) at Pittsburgh (23-32), 12:35 p.m. EDT

A year ago, the Chicago Cubs probably would have loved the opportunity to make another trip to Pittsburgh, but that isn't the case this season.

In Monday's makeup of last week's rainout, the Cubs, losers of seven of eight to the Pirates overall, look to avoid going winless on the year in Pittsburgh for the first time in franchise history.

Chicago (25-31) had been scheduled to complete a three-game series at PNC Park last Wednesday, but the game was postponed due to unplayable field conditions after a rain delay of more than three hours.

Even though both teams play in the NL Central, the Cubs weren't scheduled to visit Pittsburgh again this season, so a three-city trip for Chicago has now become a four-stop journey, from Pittsburgh to Houston back to Pittsburgh and then to Milwaukee on Tuesday.

The Cubs, who lost to the Astros 6-3 on Sunday for their fifth defeat in six games, will probably be glad this is their last visit to Pittsburgh.

Chicago lost both games at PNC Park last week to fall to 1-7 against the Pirates (23-33) in 2010 - a stark contrast from the previous two seasons, when the Cubs went 24-8 in this series overall and 12-3 in Pittsburgh.

They've been outscored 23-8 while losing all five games in the Steel City this year. If they fail to win Monday, it will be the first time since this rivalry began in 1887 that they finish a year without a victory in Pittsburgh.

Providing a glimmer of hope for the Cubs, they'll have the suddenly dominant Carlos Silva on the mound.

Silva (7-0, 3.12 ERA), who hasn't faced Pittsburgh since 2003, is the first Cubs starter to begin a season 7-0 since Ken Holtzman opened 9-0 in 1967.

Acquired from Seattle after two awful seasons with the Mariners, the right-hander is coming off one of the best outings of his career, allowing two hits while striking out a career-best 11 in seven innings of a 5-0 win over St. Louis on May 29.

"He's had some good games this year, but stuff-wise, changing speeds, good fastball, breaking ball - (this) was as good as I've seen him throw all year," manager Lou Piniella told the Cubs' official website.

Silva hasn't pitched in nine days because Chicago shuffled its rotation due to the rainout and the return of Carlos Zambrano from the bullpen.

Pittsburgh lost 6-5 in 10 innings to San Francisco on Sunday, falling to 6-17 against every team other than Chicago since May 4.

Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones have spearheaded the Pirates' success against the Cubs. McCutchen is batting .565 with 10 runs scored in seven matchups in 2010, while Jones is hitting .467 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in the season series.

Starting pitcher Dana Eveland, acquired from Toronto on Tuesday, will make his Pirates debut.

Eveland went 3-1 with a 3.82 ERA in his first six starts of the season for the Blue Jays, before posting a 16.39 ERA while losing his last three. In his last start against Arizona on May 22, the left-hander was tagged for eight runs and eight hits in 1 1-3 innings of an 8-5 loss.

"I was just hoping somebody would look at those first six games and realize I have some potential," Eveland said. "I'm glad the Pirates did."

Eveland is set to make his first start against the Cubs, and first appearance against them since 2006. He has a 6.75 ERA without a decision in three relief outings versus Chicago.