Boston Red Sox at Chicago Cubs (+133)The Boston Red Sox thought they had put their offense back in gear in the final game of a series win at Miami earlier in the week. Ryan Dempster showed them they still have a ways to go. Dempster shut down the Red Sox on Friday, giving the Chicago Cubs a rare victory. Dempster’s performance in the 3-0 triumph gave the Cubs their first shutout of Boston at Wrigley Field since Game 5 of the 1918 World Series.
The Cubs have yet to win a series this month and own baseball's worst record but looked strong in Friday’s opener. Team president and former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein looked on while his new team relied on the likes of Steve Clevenger and Dempster for offense. The players Epstein left behind in Boston have been struggling mightily, dropping eight of their last 11 to fall back to two games below .500 at 31-33. Scott Podsednik was the only Boston player with multiple hits on Friday while Kevin Youkilis saw his slump extend to 0-for-18 over his last six games.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Jon Lester (3-4, 4.57 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jeff Samardzija (5-4, 3.96)
Lester has not looked much like a staff ace this season and has gone four straight starts without recording a win. The left-hander has been the victim of one or two bad innings in his last few turns and has struggled with his command at times. Lester won his lone previous start against the Cubs despite allowing five runs on 12 hits in six innings.
Samardzija had a string of eight straight starts allowing three runs or less come to an end last time out, when he was lit up for eight runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings at Minnesota. The former reliever has struck out 72 batters in 72 2/3 total innings but had a season-low one punchout against the Twins. Samardzija made a one-inning relief appearance against Boston last season and was reached for five runs - three earned - and four hits.
TRENDS:* Red Sox are 70-27 in their last 97 interleague games as favorites.
* Red Sox are 14-6 in Lester's last 20 interleague starts.
* Cubs are 6-14 in their last 20 vs. American League East.
* Cubs are 4-1 in Samardzija's last five home starts.
UMP TRENDS:* Over is 5-2-1 in Marquezs last eight interleague games behind home plate.
* Under is 5-1-1 in Marquezs last seven games behind home plate.
* Road team is 4-0 in Marquezs last four interleague games behind home plate.
WALK-OFFS:1. Boston RHP Josh Beckett has been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday due to shoulder inflammation. Franklin Morales will take his place.
2. Carlos Marmol, who was removed from the closer’s post earlier in the season, got the save for the Cubs in Friday’s opener.
3. The Red Sox brought a large group to Wrigley Field, including owners John Henry and Tom Werner.