San Francisco @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 4, 2012 ) Chi. Cubs 2, San Francisco 3
The San Francisco Giants had a rare opportunity for a contending team - a six-game road trip against the worst two clubs in the majors. So far, so good, as the Giants finished a three-game sweep of Houston and will try to do the same to the Chicago Cubs starting Friday at Wrigley Field. The Giants hopped on the plane for the Windy City with a 4 1/2-game lead in the National League West - with a chance to add to it against the struggling Cubs.
Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner will look to get back to his winning ways against the Cubs, who provided little resistance on June 1 when he struck out 11 and gave up two runs over eight innings in a win. Chicago has lost 22 of 29 games, though it showed some fight Thursday by rallying from a six-run deficit to score three runs in the ninth inning for 12-11 win over Milwaukee.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area, CSN Chicago
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (14-8, 2.93 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Chris Volstad (1-9, 6.28)
Bumgarner's brilliant run of eight straight quality starts ended with his last outing, when Atlanta touched him for four runs in 6 1/3 innings. The lefty was hurt by four walks, which matched a season high. Bumgarner is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in five starts against the Cubs.
Volstad's dubious streak of 24 consecutive starts without a win finally came to an end in his last outing, as he shut out the Rockies for 6 2/3 innings. Despite the streak, Volstad has been solid in August, posting a 3.82 ERA in five starts. Volstad is 1-2 with a 2.67 ERA in four starts against the Giants. He has not faced them this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants have won 17 of 22 on the road and eight of 10 overall. Their 37-29 road mark is fourth-best in the majors.
2. Cubs SS Starlin Castro had two hits, two RBIs and three runs scored Thursday as he stretched his hitting streak to six games. Castro is 7-for-16 (.438) against Bumgarner.
3. Giants INF Joaquin Arias, who homered in Thursday's win over Houston, is riding an eight-game hitting streak. His career-best was a nine-game streak in June.