Chicago @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 3, San Francisco 4
A dramatic win in the series opener looks like it has the San Francisco Giants back on track.
The Giants will be looking to continue their home success when they face the Chicago Cubs again on Tuesday.
San Francisco went 2-4 on their road trip last week, dropping three of four to the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves over the weekend. That was a yardstick series for the Giants, who - as the current National League wild card leaders - would play the Braves in the first round of the playoffs if the season ended right now.
The offense, as usual, was the biggest culprit over the trip, averaging 1.5 runs per game in the four losses.
While Monday’s attack wasn’t much better, San Francisco battled back from a pair of deficits to post a 4-3 victory in 11 innings. Veteran Pat Burrell played the hero, lifting a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to push across the winning run.
A strong series against the Cubs would set the Giants up nicely for the weekend, when they host a three-game set against the NL West-leading San Diego Padres. San Francisco sits 1.5 games out of the lead after Monday’s victory.
Chicago hasn’t put up much of a fight against anybody recently, dropping 11 of its last 12 games.
Continuing one of the most impressive - yet disappointing - seasons in recent memory on Tuesday will be Giants ace Tim Lincecum. After winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2008 and 2009, Lincecum has "slipped" this season to a 3.15 ERA - up from 2.48 last season - and is allowing a .240 batting average - up from .206 in 2009.
The 26-year-old right-hander has posted quality starts in each of his last three outings, but is coming off a loss at Atlanta last Thursday when he surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. The common theme in Lincecum’s rough starts this season has been a lack of command, as he has walked at least three batters in each of his losses.
He has had little trouble with Chicago in the past, notching a 3-2 mark with a 2.55 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings over six starts.
The Cubs will counter with veteran Ryan Dempster. The right-hander has been one of the steadiest members of the team this season, making each of his outings while posting a 3.76 ERA thanks to 15 quality starts. He is coming off a win against the Milwaukee Brewers in which he yielded three runs - none earned - and three hits in six innings.
San Francisco has knocked Dempster around in the past, tagging him for a 3-7 record with a 4.11 ERA in 21 appearances - 11 starts.