PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have looked down and out at points this season, with key players missing for various reasons, the offense sputtering at times, the pitching inconsistent at others.
Yet they are entering a stretch that could turn things considerably brighter — or darker.
Their series opener Friday at PNC Park against the defending champion Chicago Cubs, a team struggling mightily on the road, is Pittsburgh’s first of 10 straight games within the National League Central.
Even at 30-36, the Pirates are hanging in there in a division that seems mediocre at best. Going into this stretch, the Pirates won four games in a row before dropping the series finale against Colorado on Wednesday.