The Chicago Cubs’ (58-48) six-game winning streak was snapped yesterday with a 7-5 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Up next for Chicago is a three-game set with the San Francisco Giants (59-48), who’ll be aiming to get their third-straight victory. Who will take Game 1 tonight? Read on further for a tasty preview of this National League showdown.
For more MLB action, click here for our in-depth preview between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
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San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs Preview
Where: Wrigley Field, Chicago
When: Thursday, August 6, 8:05 PM ET
Line: San Francisco Giants (+115) vs. Chicago Cubs (-125) — view all MLB Lines
Betting on the San Francisco Giants
Chris Heston has been having a marvelous season. The right-hander owns an 11-5 record with a 3.24 ERA thus far. He was simply sparkling in the month of July, during which he went unblemished (3-0), while holding an impressive 1.57 ERA. Heston makes his next start this evening, when they open up their three-game series with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
[sc:MLB240banner ]Heston’s most recent outing though was relatively poor. He surrendered three earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work against Texas. But thanks to the Giants’ fantastic offense that has provided him 5.94 runs support per nine innings pitched—among the highest in the majors—the 27-year-old was still able to get the 9-8 win that also extending his winning-streak to five.
The Giants will look to the duo of Buster Posey and Matt Duffy for offense. Posey boasts a team-best .332 batting average this season, but he’s only 2-for-11 lifetime off Cubs’ ace Jason Hammel. Duffy, meanwhile, has been spectacular at the plate as well, hitting .307 on the year and .316 on the road.
San Francisco is 7-1 in Heston’s last eight road starts.
After being knocked around for six runs in the Cubs’ 11-5 loss to the Phillies on July 26, Jason Hammel (6-5, 3.13 ERA) immediately redeemed himself in his next time out. He was a big reason for the Cubs’ 4-1 victory over the Brewers last Friday, giving up just one run in 5.2 frames. Now, Hammel will look to sustain this momentum when he goes on the mound later tonight against the visiting San Franciso Giants.
The 32-year-old righty has been very comfortable pitching at Wrigley Field this year. In nine home starts, he is 1-2 with a 3.08 ERA and has limited his opponents to a lowly .219 batting average. Furthermore, Hammel has also gotten the best of the Giants, as he’s managed to hold them below their usual batting average (.224).
But of course Hammel can’t do everything alone; he needs some support on offense to pick up the win. Expect Anthony Rizzo (.293), the Cubs’ best hitter, to lead the charge at the plate. Rizzo is 7-for-16 in his last four contests but is only .205 lifetime opposite the Giants and has yet to face Chris Heston.
