PITTSBURGH -- Neal Huntington was asked on his weekly radio show Sunday whether the Pittsburgh Pirates might want to scale their hopes back this season from making the playoffs to simply finishing with a winning record.The teams general manager hedged big-time, declining to buy into such a change in scope, although he did begin to talk about the offseason in a way that suggested the Pirates might not be able to claw their way into a National League wild-card spot.Realistically, finishing over .500 is probably the better target, but hardly an easy one, especially considering that the Chicago Cubs come to PNC Park to start a four-game series Monday, followed by a trip by Pittsburgh to St. Louis next weekend to close the regular season.Pittsburgh has lost two games in a row to sit one game under .500 at 77-78. It is 4 1/2 games out of the second NL wild-card playoff spot, same as Miami, and would also have to pass St. Louis, with just those seven games remaining.Chicago, of course, leads the major leagues with 99 wins after a 3-1 victory over St. Louis Sunday night. The Cubs have won five of their past six and -- in case the Pirates have their eyes on pulling off a sweep to bolster their dwindling playoff hopes -- they have not lost more than two games in a row since early July.In addition, Pittsburgh is a disappointing 37-40 at PNC Park -- Wed like to get back to being dominant at home, Huntington said -- while the Cubs are 43-32 on the road.The Cubs are scheduled to start Kyle Hendricks (15-8, 2.06 ERA) in Mondays series opener. He leads the major leagues in ERA and is 11-2 with a 1.37 ERA over his past 17 outings, including 16 starts. He has beaten Pittsburgh twice this season, allowing one earned run in 13 innings, with both games coming at Wrigley Field.Teammate Jon Lester, who started the Cubs game Sunday, told the Chicago Tribune last week that Hendricks should win the NL Cy Young Award.If I had a vote, (Hendricks) would be my vote, Lester told the Tribune. I get to see him every day. I see what he does, how he goes about it, how he prepares, how he goes out and executes. Hes my guy. Hes who Id vote for right now, tomorrow, the next day, whenever.After Hendricks, it doesnt get any easier for Pittsburgh. The projected Cubs starters the remainder of the series are John Lackey (10-8), Jake Arrieta (18-7) and rookie Rob Zastryzny (1-0).The Pirates are expected to give rookie Chad Kuhl (5-3, 3.73 ERA) the start Monday. He has won his past two starts, allowing a total of three earned runs while pitching six innings in each of the two wins.Pittsburgh has won nine of the 12 games he has started.He, like so many pitchers, has struggled against the Cubs, going 0-1 in two starts with an 8.59 ERA. One of those losses was a 3-0 game against Hendricks Aug. 30.Pittsburghs probable starters the rest of the series are Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), rookie Jameson Taillon (4-4) and Ivan Nova (12-8).Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No. Fake Marlins Jerseys . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . -- Aldon Smith believes he is on the path to being sober for good. Marlins Jerseys 2020 .Y. -- Marcell Dareus and the Buffalo Bills defence made life miserable for Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco. Miami Marlins Gear . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams.WOLVERHAMPTON, England -- English second-tier club Wolverhampton Wanderers has become Chinas latest soccer investment.The Fosun conglomerate that owns Club Med and other businesses in Europe and the United States has bought Wolves from Englishman Steve Morgan. Fosun is chaired by Guo Guangchang, who is one of Chinas leading entrepreneurs.In the last year, Chinese investors have also bought Italian club Inter Milan and 13 percent of Manchester City.Fosun representative Jeff Shi says football is enjoying a huge growth in China .dddddddddddd.. it makes perfect sense to buy a great football club.Wolves have an illustrious history, winning the English topflight three times in the 1950s. But the central England clubs last major trophy was the 1980 League Cup and it has not been in the Premier League since 2012. ' ' '