New York @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 4, 2010 ) NY Mets 3, Chi. Cubs 5
As the Chicago Cubs search for something to build around going into next season, they seem to have a solid cornerstone in rookie Starlin Castro.
The red-hot 20-year-old shortstop leads the Cubs as they go for their first three-game sweep of the New York Mets since 2004 when the teams wrap up their series today at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs are 8-3 under interim manager Mike Quade, who took over when Lou Piniella stepped down Aug. 22, and they're finding plenty of reason to be optimistic about their youth movement.
Outfielder Tyler Colvin leads all major league rookies with 19 home runs, and Castro has caught fire since the All-Star break, hitting .371.
Castro has multiple hits in six consecutive games, going 13-for-26 with three doubles, eight runs and two RBIs during that stretch.
He has raised his average to .321, the third-highest in the National League behind Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez (.335) and Cincinnati's Joey Votto (.324). Castro has been especially tough at home, hitting .361 at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs have won three straight, putting them in position to match their season-high four-game winning streak, and they turn to 33-year-old right-hander Ryan Dempster to keep it going.
Dempster (12-9, 3.71 ERA) has been the Cubs' most consistent starter this season, but he is coming off his worst outing of the year. He allowed seven runs over three innings in a 14-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, suffering his first loss since July 30 after winning four consecutive decisions.
Before getting bombed by the Pirates, Dempster had been 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA in five August starts.
Dempster looks to get back on track against a Mets team he has had mixed results against. In 24 appearances against New York - 13 of them starts - he is 9-4 with a 5.57 ERA. He last faced the Mets on Aug. 29, 2009, allowing four runs over six innings to pick up the win in an 11-4 victory at Wrigley Field.
Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran, who had three hits and an RBI Saturday, is 5-for-7 with a homer against Dempster.
The Mets have lost five of six to start a 10-game road trip and now they're in danger of losing the season series to the Cubs. The teams have split their first six meetings this year.
New York has struggled to score runs lately for Jonathon Niese, who is scheduled to start today. The Mets averaged 3.1 runs in Niese's seven starts in August, leading the 23-year-old left-hander to a 1-3 record last month despite allowing only one run in four of those seven outings.
Run support hasn't been the problem his last two times out, though, as Niese (8-7, 3.70 ERA) has been hit hard in losing consecutive starts, most recently allowing eight runs - three earned - over 4 2/3 innings in a 9-2 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday.
Niese pitched well against the Cubs on April 19 in New York, allowing one run on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings but settling for a no-decision in a 6-1 Mets win. He was pounded in his only other outing against Chicago, giving up six runs over three innings in a 9-5 loss on Sept. 22, 2008.