The reeling Pittsburgh Pirates have lost eight of their last nine games after getting shut out in a 6-0 defeat to the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon. They've dropped 13 games behind Chicago in NL Central standings, and I think they'll be even further back after tonight's contest.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Cubs hand the ball to Jon Lester (8-3, 1.89). The left-hander has been almost as dominant as Jake Arrieta this season and he has allowed just two earned runs over 30 1/3 innings in his last four starts. Lester has posted a 1.52 ERA in six starts against the Pirates who he's held to one run in 12 1/3 innings this year. The Pirates counter with another left-hander in Jonathon Niese (6-3, 4.60 ERA) who was knocked around for eight runs and 11 hits in 5 1/3 innings against the Cardinals his last start. Niese has posted a 4.44 ERA in four career outings at Wrigley Field.

2. Road Woes - The Pirates have won just one of their past eight games on the road and they've lost four of the past five meetings at Wrigley.

3. X-Factor - The Cubs are 19-6 against the National League Central opponents.

Selection: This is a play on the Chicago Cubs (6*)