Clayton Richard designated for assignment by Chicago Cubs

The Pittsburgh Pirates could not generate any offense Tuesday as the Chicago Cubs shut them out 5-0 at PNC Park. “He”™d already struck out this time, when crew chief Paul Nauert signaled for the tarp”™s return, and with another 1 hour, 29 minute delay the rain washed the game away. He induced pinch hitter Chris Coghlan to ground out on the first pitch with the bases loaded to end the sixth and protect Pittsburgh’s 6-4 lead.

Though MLB’s 2012 addition of a second Wild Card in each league provides teams with more routes to the postseason than ever before, the system remains inherently unfair. They are 8-9 coming out of the All-Star break.

The Chicago Cubs lost in Pittsburgh to the Pirates on Wednesday night 7-5, ending their six game winning streak. After McCutchen met with the media in May to take blame for his abysmal April, Polanco walked over. Happ is the eighth different starting pitcher used by the Pirates this year. Three more Pirates relievers each pitched an inning with Mark Melancon (S: 34) closing it out after allowing a run. Later in the inning, the Bucs put runners on via a walk and a single, and then an error by Kris Bryant.

Angels 4, Indians 3 • C.J. Cron hit a tying two-run single with two out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth against Cleveland closer Cody Allen before pinch-runner Taylor Featherston scored on a wild pitch to win the game for Los Angeles. Taking his place in the 6th with 2 outs in the inning was relief pitcher Jared Hughes.

Diamondbacks 11, Nationals 4 • Welington Castillo’s three-run homer highlighted a 17-hit attack as Arizona romped on the road.

Arrieta (12-6) allowed just two singles – by center fielder Andrew McCutchen in the fourth inning and left fielder Starling Marte in the seventh – while striking out five and walking three.

Chicago (58-47) was able to get the job done as they recorded five runs on 14 hits against Pittsburgh.

Up Next: The Pirates and Cubs wrap up their rain-shortened two-game set Wednesday along the North Shore. The 6-foot-5, 215-pound right-hander has contributed 88 strikeouts over 129.0 innings pitched. Should Chicago make any August trades, more than likely bats will be sought after instead of pitching since Tommy Hunter and Dan Haren have been added to boost the rotation.

The Cubs eventually went down 4-1 entering the sixth inning, partly due to some further sketchy defensive play. The game gets underway at 7:05 p.m., and you can watch the match-up on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. He is 1 for 7 in two games on a rehab assignment with Double-A Tennessee. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list in late June with right forearm tightness.

“Couple breaking balls, and two left-handed hitters jumped on ’em”, manager Clint Hurdle said. If all goes well, he should throw three innings and around 50 pitches at Double-A Altoona in the middle of next week.