The series: Pirates vs. Chicago, four games at Three Rivers Stadium.
Times: 1:35 p.m. today, 7:05 p.m. tomorrow, 7:35 p.m. Wednesday and 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
Radio/TV: All games on KDKA-AM (1020); Tuesday and Wednesday on Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh.
Probable starters: Jason Schmidt (8-5), Todd Ritchie (7-6), Francisco Cordova (3-4) and Kris Benson (6-6) for the Pirates; Jon Lieber (6-3), Steve Trachsel (2-11), Terry Mulholland (4-4) and undecided for the Cubs.
About the Pirates
Swept a three-game series from the Cubs April 9-11 at Three Rivers
Schmidt is 4-3 in nine career appearances against the Cubs. In 64 2/3 innings, he has allowed 19 earned runs.
Cordova has held the opposition under four runs just once in his past four starts. In his past 23 1/3 innings, he has yielded 30 hits and 16 earned runs.
About the Cubs
Have lost 18 of their past 23 games. Have allowed 81 runs in past six games.
Lieber, traded to the Cubs Dec. 14, has gone three starts without winning despite allowing only five earned runs in 18 1/3 innings.
Trachsel hasn't won since May 15. In nine starts since, he's 0-7 and has allowed 61 hits and 46 earned runs in 42 innings.
On deck
Pirates begin a three-game series in Minneapolis Friday night; Cubs begin a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park Friday night.
