San Francisco @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2010 ) San Francisco 0, Chi. Cubs 2

Visiting Wrigley Field has done little to get the San Francisco Giants out of their offensive slump. The outlook for the series finale is not promising considering the way Ryan Dempster has been pitching.

The Giants try to break out of their funk tonight when they take on Dempster and the Chicago Cubs in the rubber game of their three-game set.

San Francisco has scored two runs or less in nine of its last 13 games, including both of the first two contests of this series. After sweating out a 1-0 victory on Tuesday, the Giants suffered a 2-0 loss Wednesday, marking the fourth time they have been shut out in their last five losses.

The loss, coupled with San Diego's 3-1 triumph over Los Angeles, dropped the Giants one-half game behind the Padres in the National League West.

San Francisco's starting pitching has been tremendous over the 11 games, allowing a total of 10 earned runs in 67 innings for a 1.34 ERA. Jonathan Sanchez produced the lastest solid effort, giving up two runs, one earned, in 5 2/3 frames on Wednesday.

Madison Bumgarner is familiar with San Francisco's offensive struggles. The rookie has yielded just four earned runs in 26 innings (1.38 ERA) over his last four starts but has an 0-2 record to show for it thanks to a total of two runs of support.

In his last three outings, the Giants failed to score a single run for him.

Bumgarner has posted just one win in his last 10 starts. On Friday, the right-hander allowed two runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings en route to a 3-0 loss to Milwaukee.

The 21-year old made his only career appearance against the Cubs on August 9, giving up three runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 frames while settling for a no-decision in a 4-3 victory.

In nine road starts this season, Bumgarner is 5-3 with a 2.14 ERA.

Wednesday's win, which saw Kosuke Fukudome hit his 13th home run and Randy Wells toss 7 2/3 scoreless innings, was the 11th consecutive game in which Chicago allowed fewer than four runs. The streak has a good chance of being extended by Dempster, who has won six of his last eight decisions.

The veteran right-hander has not allowed a run in his last two starts, pitching 14 innings while posting a 2-0 record. In each of his last three victories, Dempster has worked seven scoreless frames, including Friday's 2-0 triumph at Florida.

Dempster owns a 4-7 mark and 3.89 ERA in 22 career games against San Francisco. On August 10, he yielded four runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings of an 8-6 victory at AT&T Park.

The 33-year old has gone 5-6 with a 3.99 ERA in 15 starts at home this year.

Chicago has won seven of its last eight games and is 18-8 since Mike Quade took over as manager for the retired Lou Piniella on August 23.