The Pittsburgh Pirates head to Wrigley Field on Friday, September 11, for a 2:20 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Chicago Cubs. Wilber Dotel gets the ball for Pittsburgh against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga in a late-season NL Central clash that carries real divisional weight. The Bucs bring a lineup that mixes veteran production from Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz with emerging youth, and they'll need a strong afternoon to come away from Chicago with a win. Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh or listen on KDKA-AM 1020 and 100.1 FM.

Pitching Matchup: Dotel vs. Imanaga

Wilber Dotel takes the mound for Pittsburgh in what figures to be one of the tougher assignments on the schedule. Shota Imanaga is an established presence in the Cubs' rotation, and facing him at Wrigley Field in a day game — where the wind and conditions can be unpredictable — adds another layer of difficulty. Dotel will need to keep Chicago's lineup in check and give the Pirates' offense enough innings to work with. This is a real test for the young right-hander, and how he handles the middle of Chicago's order will go a long way toward determining the outcome.

Cubs Lineup Pittsburgh Must Contain

The Cubs are sending out a formidable group. Alex Bregman bats cleanup at third base, giving Chicago a genuine run-producing threat in the heart of the order. Pete Crow-Armstrong leads off in center, Seiya Suzuki hits second in right, and Michael Busch slots in at first ahead of Bregman. Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Michael Conforto, Pedro Ramírez, and Carson Kelly round out a lineup with no obvious weak spots. Dotel cannot afford to let Bregman beat him with runners on base.

Pirates Lineup: Keys to Offensive Production

• Oneil Cruz (CF, No. 2): Cruz's combination of power and speed makes him a constant threat. Getting him on base early and often puts pressure on Imanaga from the jump.
• Bryan Reynolds (DH, No. 3): Reynolds is the offensive anchor for this Pirates club. A strong afternoon from him in the three-hole could be the difference in a close game.
• Rafael Flores Jr. (1B, No. 4): The young first baseman hits cleanup and will face pressure to produce against a seasoned pitcher. How he handles Imanaga's arsenal is worth watching closely.
• Konnor Griffin (SS, No. 1): The leadoff shortstop is one of the more intriguing pieces in this Pittsburgh lineup. His ability to get on base sets the table for Cruz and Reynolds.
• Henry Davis (C, No. 9): Davis hitting ninth means Pittsburgh is essentially carrying two table-setters if he can work counts and get on base ahead of Griffin.

Keys to Watch

Dotel's Pitch Efficiency

Day games at Wrigley can be long, grinding affairs. If Dotel falls behind in counts and works deep into at-bats early, the Cubs' lineup will wear him down. He needs to attack hitters and log quality innings to give the Pittsburgh bullpen a manageable workload in the late innings.

How Pittsburgh Handles Imanaga

Imanaga can be difficult to square up, and Pittsburgh's lineup will need disciplined at-bats. Cruz's athleticism and Reynolds' experience give the Pirates their best shot at stringing something together, but the whole order needs to be patient and look for mistakes.

Prediction

This is a tough road spot for Pittsburgh. Imanaga at Wrigley in a Friday afternoon game is a difficult draw, and the Cubs' lineup — anchored by Bregman — presents real problems for Dotel. That said, if Reynolds and Cruz get going, the Pirates have enough to keep this competitive. Expect a tight game that comes down to the late innings. Edge to the Cubs, 4-2, but don't be surprised if Pittsburgh scratches out something on the road.