CHICAGO -- The "p" word is beginning to arise in discussions about the Pirates' third-base situation.

Well, questions about it, anyway.

Doug Mientkiewicz started at third base for the third consecutive game against a right-hander yesterday, while Jose Bautista -- and his 3-for-18 slide -- remained in the dugout.

Mientkiewicz yesterday continued to play solidly at third. He also had a run-scoring single and scored a run in the Pirates' 7-6 win against Chicago.

This on the heels of his two-run home run Friday and his three-hit, three-runs-scored contribution in St. Louis Thursday.

So, are the Pirates in a platoon situation at third base?

"I don't know if we're going to say it's a platoon," Pirates manager John Russell said. "Jose got into a little bit of a rut hitting. I don't know. We'll see how we go the next few days."

Right-hander Jason Marquis is set to start for the Cubs today, so it seems likely the left-hand hitting Mientkiewicz will start at third again. With left-hander Manny Parra scheduled to start for Milwaukee Tuesday night at PNC Park, Bautista could find his way back into the lineup.

Whatever the case, Mientkiewicz continues to impress.

"He gives us a little bit of a spark," Russell said. "That's what he can bring. He brings energy to your club. He brings professionalism to your club.

"He's fun to watch. He's into the game. He works hard on every pitch whether it's hitting or on defense. He has a great influence on the bench. He's a pure baseball player.

"Throughout his career, he's never really been given anything. He's worked for everything. I think that shows in his play. He's going to be into each play. It's almost like [every play] is going to be the last play he's going to be able to make.

"You hear guys talk about playing each game like it's the last game of your career. He's kind of the epitome of that. He's out there to do a job, and that's what he's going to do."

Reliever Damaso Marte made a great play to get the Pirates out of the eighth inning yesterday.

With Kosuke Fukudome on first base, Mark DeRosa hit a hard bouncer off Marte's glove. The ball caromed toward second base. Marte took a split-second to locate the ball, then made a lunging pickup and made a lateral shot put type throw to first to barely get a sliding DeRosa.

"The ball hit my glove and I didn't know where it was," Marte said. "I just threw it to first base by instinct."

Shortstop Jack Wilson is scheduled to play for Class AAA Indianapolis again today. It will be the fourth game on his rehabilitation stint.

Because Indianapolis is off tomorrow, it's probable he will join Class AA Altoona tomorrow when the Curve begins a four-game series at Akron.

That could put Wilson on pace to rejoin the Pirates Friday.

"It's kind of like a mini-spring training for him," Russell said. "He's progressing nicely. His calf is feeling fine. I think he's game-ready. Now it's just getting stamina-ready."

The scoreless first inning turned in by Zach Duke yesterday was a welcome sight. The Pirates have been outscored, 32-8, in the first inning this season.