Cubs Vs. Pirates: Chicago Can Play Role Of Spoiler

The Chicago Cubs have been out of the MLB Playoffs race longer than most fans care to remember, but this weekend's series still matters... at least for the team they're playing, anyway, because the Pittsburgh Pirates are fighting for their postseason lives.

The Pirates have lost 10 of their last 12 games, dropping their record to 72-70 and putting them 2 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race behind the St. Louis Cardinals. That obviously indicates that the Pirates need to take care of business at Wrigley Field this weekend if they want to stay involved in the postseason race.

The Pirates are starting James McDonald despite his struggling to a 6.91 ERA since the All-Star break whereas the Cubs will trot rookie Chris Rusin to the mound for the first game of the four-game series.

For more on the Cubs, be sure to visit Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout.