San Francisco @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 2, 2016 ) San Francisco 1, Chi. Cubs 2
Two of the game’s top pitchers square off when Jake Arrieta and the Chicago Cubs play host to Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the third of a four-game series Saturday. The Cubs have claimed the first two games between the potential National League playoff opponents.
After its bullpen saved the day with five perfect innings in Thursday’s 5-4 victory, Chicago received a complete game from Jon Lester in a 2-1 win Friday. Arrieta hopes to pick up where Lester left off and help the Cubs claim their fifth straight win overall and their 10th consecutive home victory. The Giants, who have lost six straight at Wrigley Field, hope Bumgarner can shut down the Cubs like he did May 22 in San Francisco, when he blanked them over 7 2/3 innings in a 1-0 victory. The Giants remain in position for a wild card and in contention in the NL West despite a major league-worst 15-29 record since the All-Star break.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (13-8, 2.49 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (16-5, 2.84)
Bumgarner endured an up-and-down August, going 3-2 with a 4.14 ERA in six starts. The 27-year-old has won three of his last four starts, including a solid showing Sunday against Atlanta in which he allowed three runs and five hits over seven innings. Bumgarner is 7-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 11 starts against the Cubs.
Arrieta won his first four starts of August before being knocked around for six runs in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision Monday against Pittsburgh. The 30-year-old gave up a pair of homers and struck out only three Pirates, matching his season low. Arrieta held the Giants to one run over seven frames in a win May 20 in San Francisco, improving to 4-1 with a 1.60 ERA in five career meetings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Cubs are 40 games over .500 for the first time since finishing the 1945 season 42 games over at 98-56.
2. San Francisco RF Hunter Pence, who broke up Lester’s no-hit bid with a homer in the seventh inning Friday, has hit safely in his last 17 games at Wrigley Field.
3. Chicago 3B/OF Kris Bryant had his career-best 14-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-3 performance Friday but has reached base in a career-high 19 straight games.
PREDICTION: Cubs 3, Giants 2