Pregame Notes: Cubs return home to take on the Pirates

The Chicago Cubs (30-40) return from a ten-game road trip in which the club managed a respectable 5-5 mark to take on the Pittsburgh Pirates (35-37), a team that is looking to claw its way back to the .500 mark in the National League Central.

Ricky Renteria’s club has been noticeably better at home (15-14) than on the road this season (15-26), and hopes the trend will continue with the new home stand.

Right-hander Edwin Jackson (4-7, 5.11 ERA) will start for Chicago in this afternoon’s opener. The veteran has already faced the Pirates three times this season, but has allowed 11 earned runs in 16 innings. Pittsburgh batters are hitting .300 against him in those contests. His most recent start against the Bucs came on June 9, when he allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings.

He will be opposed by a fellow right-hander, Charlie Morton (4-7, 3.09 ERA) who is also familiar with the Cubs. In three starts against Chicago (matched up against Jackson in all three), he has a 2.84 ERA – a much better mark than the Cubs’ righty. His last start came against the Marlins last Saturday, when he allowed two runs over seven innings of work.

Today’s game is slated for a 3:05 p.m. CT start and WGN carries both the television and radio broadcasts.

Here are today’s starting lineups: