First pitch: Tuesday, 8:05 p.m. ET
Line: Pittsburgh +200, Chicago -220, Total: N/A

The Pirates will be hoping to bounce back from Monday night’s loss with a big road victory over the Cubs on Tuesday.

Pittsburgh held a 6-3 lead over Chicago heading into the bottom of the eighth inning on Tuesday night, but the team ended up blowing that lead and losing to the Cubs in extra innings. The Pirates badly needed that game, as they are currently fighting for a Wild Card spot in the NL. The Cubs, meanwhile, are sitting on the best record in baseball and will continue to do their best to earn themselves home-field advantage up until the World Series. The starters in this huge matchup are set to be RHP Chad Kuhl (3-1, 3.50 ERA, 27 K) for Pittsburgh and RHP Kyle Hendricks (12-7, 2.19 ERA, 135 K) for Chicago. The Pirates are 5-0 against the money line as an underdog of +100 or higher with Kuhl on the mound this season, so they’ll be hoping the rookie can work his magic yet again on Tuesday. Pittsburgh is, however, just 1-10 against the money line when revenging two straight one run losses against an opponent over the past three seasons. The Cubs also happen to be an incredible 24-5 against the money line in August homes games over the past two years.

The Pirates could have really used a victory on Monday night, but the team must turn things around quickly and lock in for this meeting with Chicago on Tuesday. The starter in this one will be Chad Kuhl and the rookie has performed very well for Pittsburgh this season. Kuhl has pitched at least six innings in each of his past five starts and the righty has given up just eight earned runs in total in those appearances. The Pirates would be more than satisfied with a quality start against this dangerous Cubs team on Tuesday. Offensively, OF Gregory Polanco (.273, 21 HR, 79 RBI) is a guy that Pittsburgh will be counting on in this one. Polanco has been on a tear for the Pirates lately, racking up four homers and 12 RBI over the past seven games. If he can continue to drive in runs then this Pirates team just might sneak into the playoffs. Pittsburgh will, however, need OF Andrew McCutchen (.251, 18 HR, 56 RBI) to wake up soon. Although McCutchen has seen his average rise from .244 to .251 over the past 10 games, he is still struggling to hit for power and the Pirates need him to begin performing like the player he was just one year ago.

The Cubs are coming off of an emotional win and will now be hoping to guarantee themselves a series victory by winning on Tuesday night. Fortunately for Chicago, Kyle Hendricks is going to be starting in this one and he just might be the team’s best pitcher at the moment. Hendricks has not allowed more than three runs in 17 straight outings and has given up two or fewer earned runs in nine of his past 10 appearances. He also happened to have dominated this Pittsburgh team on Jun. 19, allowing just one earned run in six innings of work. Hendricks struck out 12 batters in that game and walked zero, so he should be able to get it going in this one as well. Offensively, 3B Kris Bryant (.305, 35 HR, 89 RBI) can be expected to come through on Tuesday. Bryant is on an 11-game hitting streak heading into this game and has racked up seven homers and 16 RBI over the past 12 games for Chicago. He is seeing the ball very well right now and could take advantage of Kuhl’s inexperience in this one.