Cubs Look For Sweep
Thanks in large part to their success at home, the Chicago Cubs have the opportunity to finish the first half of the season with their best record since 1969. With Ryan Dempster on the mound, they have a very good chance at doing so.
Dempster looks to remain perfect at Wrigley Field as the Cubs try to complete a three-game sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Chicago -145 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 9 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 77% of bets for this game have been placed on Chicago -145 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
With a sweep of the Giants (39-55), Chicago (57-37) would enter the All-Star break with the second-best record in franchise history. The 1969 Cubs went 61-37, although they faded in the second half to finish 92-70 and lose the pennant to the New York Mets.
They haven’t lost in 11 home games this season with Dempster (10-3, 3.13 ERA) on the mound. The right-hander has earned all of his wins at home, going 10-0 with a 2.58 ERA in 11 starts at Wrigley. On Tuesday, he allowed one run and two hits in seven innings of Chicago’s 7-3 win over Cincinnati, becoming the first Cubs starter since Rick Reuschel in 1977 to win his first 10 decisions at home.
Only one pitcher in franchise history has started a season 11-0 at Wrigley – Bill Lee in 1936.
What the Cubs need from Dempster "is another 10 (wins) in the second half and we’re in business," manager Lou Piniella said.
However, Dempster is 0-6 with a 5.09 lifetime ERA as a starter against the Giants. He allowed two runs in five innings at San Francisco on July 2, but did not factor in the decision as the Cubs won 6-5.
His task could also be tough with All-Star Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.66) getting the start for San Francisco, looking to become the first Giants pitcher since Jason Schmidt in 2004 to win 11 games before the All-Star break.
Lincecum had been undefeated on the road this season until Tuesday, when he gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings of a 7-0 loss to the New York Mets. Even after the defeat, the 24-year-old right-hander is 7-1 with a 2.23 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance away from home.
"He’s set the bar so high that when he gives up four in six innings, you look for something different," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "You’re not going to go out there with your best stuff every start."
The Cubs blew a seven-run lead in the eighth and ninth innings Saturday, but won the game 8-7 on Reed Johnson’s RBI single in the 11th.
"It’s a win, what can I say?" said Piniella, as his Cubs improved their major league-best home record to 37-11.
Jose Castillo and Bengie Molina each had three hits for the Giants, who suffered their sixth straight defeat. They are trying to avoid losing seven in a row for the first time since an eight-game slide June 13-22, 2007.
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