San Francisco @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Mar 25, 2013 ) San Francisco 9, Chi. Cubs 3
After finishing a series sweep, the San Francisco Giants will try to start another one Thursday when they travel to Wrigley Field for the matinee opener of a four-game set with the Chicago Cubs. The Giants won six of seven meetings last season, including two of three in Chicago. San Francisco swept three games from Colorado to wrap up a 4-2 homestand, claiming a 10-0 shutout behind Barry Zito in Wednesday's finale.
The Cubs return from an unexpected day off in search of their first back-to-back wins of the season. They snapped a four-game skid with a 6-3 victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday, but didn't get a chance to keep the momentum going Wednesday, as cold, windy conditions and the threat of rain and storms forced the postponement of the series finale.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (San Francisco), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (0-1, 8.44 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Scott Feldman (0-1, 7.71)
Vogelsong was not his sharpest during his season debut against St. Louis, allowing five runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struggled against the Cubs early his career but is 3-1 with a 3.13 ERA in four starts against them over the past two seasons.
Feldman will make his Wrigley Field debut after a less-than-memorable outing in Atlanta in which he needed 102 pitches to get through 4 2/3 innings. He struggled with his command, walking four and hitting a batter while surrendering four runs. Feldman is 0-3 with a 5.54 ERA in four games (two starts) against the Giants.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants RF Hunter Pence went 0-for-5 Wednesday to snap a seven-game hitting streak. Pence is 4-for-8 with three doubles against Feldman.
2. Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano is 5-for-12 with a home run against Vogelsong. He is the only Cubs player who has homered against the right-hander.
3. Giants C Buster Posey went 3-for-5 with three RBIs Wednesday for his first multi-hit game of the season. Posey had 52 multi-hit games in 2012.
PREDICTION: Giants 7, Cubs 4