May 14--Jake Arrieta will take his 6-0 record and 1.13 ERA, which is tops in baseball, to the mound for the Cubs, who face the Pirates in the second of a three-game series at Wrigley Field on Saturday. Arrieta is the first Cubs starter to win his first six since Mordecai Brown won 11 to start 1908. Catcher Miguel Montero returns from the 15-day disabled list, where he landed with back problems. The Cubs designated outfielder Ryan Kalish for assignment.
At 26-8, the Cubs are off to their best start since 1907 (also 26-8) and the best start to a regular season since the Yankees went 26-8 to start 1998. The Cubs have won 34 of their last 42 regular-season games dating to last season.
At the plate
The Cubs have outscored opponents 205-101 this season, the best differential in the majors. The Red Sox (57) and Cardinals (48) are the next closes teams in run differential. ... Anthony Rizzo has reached safely in 25 consecutive games, a career high. ... Ben Zobrist has reached in his last 25 starts. ... Dexter Fowler's .449 on-base percentage is second in the majors behind Bryce Harper (.456).
On the mound
Cubs starters, who have an MLB-best 2.26 ERA and 21 wins, have pitched through the fifth inning in 42 straight games, the franchise's longest streak since 1910.
Jeff Locke (1-2, 4.68) will pitch for the Pirates, making him the third lefty the Cubs will have faced in three games.
Key number
6.03. Runs per game the Cubs are averaging, best in baseball and just ahead of the Red Sox (5.92)
The quote
"I talked about the power of 24 hours. That's the power of 48, I guess." -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon after the Cubs snapped a two-game losing streak Friday.
Up next
Vs. Pirates, 1:20 p.m. Sunday, CSN. LH Jon Lester (4-1, 1.96) vs. RH Gerritt Cole (3-3, 3.78).
Saturday's lineups
Pirates (18-16)
John Jaso, 1B
Andrew McCutchen, CF
Gregory Polanco, RF
Starling Marte, LF
Francisco Cerevilli, C
Jun Ho Kang, 3B
Josh Harrison, 2B
Jordy Mercer, SS
Jeff Locke, LHP
Cubs (26-8)
Dexter Fowler, CF
Jason Heyward, RF
Kris Bryant, 3B
Anthony Rizzo, 1B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Jorge Soler, LF
Addison Russell, SS
Miguel Montero, C
Jake Arrieta, RHP
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