(From The My Sportsbook - All Times Eastern)

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

May 17, 7:05 p.m. - Mark Prior (3-1) vs. Josh Fogg (3-2)

May 18, 12:35 p.m. - Glendon Rusch (2-1) vs. Kip Wells (3-3)

2005 SEASON SERIES: Chicago leads, 3-2

CHICAGO (16-20)

Mark Prior tries to get back in the win column in the series opener. He carries a three-start winless slide into this evening. Since beginning his campaign with three straight victories, Prior is 0-1, including a no- decision in last Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Mets. He allowed two runs (1 earned) on two hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking three. It marked the second consecutive start in which Prior pitched well enough to win but didn't factor into the decision. Five days earlier he tossed eight stellar innings against the Phillies and struck out 10, but the Cubs lost due to a LaTroy Hawkins throwing error in the ninth. Prior is 5-0 with a 2.67 ERA in eight lifetime starts against Pittsburgh.

The Cubs dropped a 5-4 contest in Washington on Sunday. The winning run came as a result of a Neifi Perez fielding error in the bottom of the sixth inning. Cliff Bartosh (0-2) absorbed the loss for Chicago. Greg Maddux started the game and lasted five innings. He was touched for four runs on seven hits, mixing in two strikeouts with one walk. Michael Barrett drove in two runs for the Cubs, who have dropped two straight on the heels of a three-game winning streak.

Chicago is currently second in the National League with 46 home runs.

The Cubs pitchers are first in the majors, averaging 8.51 strikeouts per nine innings.

PITTSBURGH (17-19)

In the series opener the Pirates will counter with Josh Fogg, who has won his last two outings. Last Wednesday he anchored a 7-2 victory in San Francisco by tossing seven solid innings. Fogg yielded two runs on five hits while striking out two and walking one. Fogg is 4-5 with a 6.08 ERA in 14 career starts against the Cubs.

On Sunday, Daryle Ward went 3-for-4 with a homer and two runs batted in, as the Pirates defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2, in the finale of a three-game series at PNC Park. Tike Redman and David Ross also knocked in runs for the Pirates, who took two-of-three from the Brewers and have won nine of their last 12 contests overall. Dave Williams (4-3) earned the win after allowing just two runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.

Jose Mesa recorded the final three outs for his 13th save -- tying him with Arizona's Brandon Lyon and Texas' Francisco Cordero for the MLB lead.

In the last 12 games the Pirates bullpen has gone 2-1 with six saves and a 1.03 ERA. Pittsburgh's pen has allowed a league-low four home runs this season.

Pittsburgh leads the National League with 23 homers during the month of May.