The Pirates are coming into this game with a 63-73 record this season and they have not been playing well in their recent games. They have lost 5 of their last 6 as well as 6 of their last 8 games, and that includes getting swept by the Cubs at home just last week. They are going up against a Cubs team that is 71-66 this season and has been playing much better in their recent games. They have won their last 6 straight as well as 9 of their last 10 games, sweeping 2 straight series, and they are coming off of a game which they scored 14 runs. Their offense has been on fire in their recent games as well, scoring 99 runs in their last 10 games and averaging 11 runs scored per game in that span. Jared Jones is starting for the Pirates in this game and he is 5-7 with a 3.88 ERA this season. He is in his rookie season, but recently he has missed some time due to injury. He just came back after being out for close to 2 months and he did not pitch well in his 1st start back, allowing 5 earned runs in 4 innings pitched. He has also allowed at least 5 earned runs in 2 of his last 4 starts as he has not been very consistent. He has also been worse on the road as he has allowed at least 3 earned runs in each of his last 4 road starts, allowing 13 runs total in his last 2 road starts alone. Jameson Taillon is starting for the Cubs in this game and he is 9-8 with a 3.85 ERA this season. He has not been pitching well recently as he has allowed at least 4 earned runs in each of his last 4 starts, but 3 of those 4 starts were also on the road. He did allow 4 earned runs in his last start at home, but he has been much better there as prior to that bad start he only allowed 2 earned runs or less in 5 straight starts there. His last start was against the Pirates last week and he allowed 4 earned runs in an 18-8 win for his team, but he will be pushing to bounce back at home with a better start and his team has the offense right now to back him up as well. The Pirates are starting to decline with their play now while the Cubs offense is heating up in an attempt to make a playoff push. The Cubs will win this game at home.