San Francisco @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) San Francisco 5, Chi. Cubs 2
Although San Francisco's last 28 games will be played against National League West opponents, the Giants get one last chance to beat up on the bottom of the NL Central when they face the Chicago Cubs in the rubber match of three-game series at Wrigley Field. San Francisco swept last-place Houston and has split the first two contests with Chicago to extend its division lead to 4 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants send ace Matt Cain to the mound on Sunday hoping he can duplicate the dominance he displayed against the Cubs on June 2, when he struck out seven and allowed one run over eight innings. Cain will try to build on what Tim Lincecum did Saturday by slowing down a Cubs lineup that had produced 18 runs in consecutive wins. Chicago managed just five hits in a 5-2 loss Saturday.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area, WGN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (13-5, 2.82 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (4-11, 4.71)
Cain hit a bit of a rough patch after his perfect game on June 13, but he has won three straight decisions and posted four consecutive quality starts. He didn't get the win Tuesday against the Astros, but he pitched well - allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings. Cain is 6-2 with a 2.06 ERA in 12 starts against the Cubs.
Wood has lost eight straight decisions since the All-Star break, though that's not entirely indicative of the way he pitched in August. He has posted quality starts in two straight outings and four of his last five. That same tough luck hurt Wood when he faced the Giants on June 3, as he allowed one run over seven innings but took the loss in a 2-0 defeat. Wood is 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA in three starts against San Francisco.
WALK-OFFS
1. OF Xavier Nady made a great impression in his Giants debut, clearing the bases with a three-run double in his first at-bat. Nady had just six RBIs in 40 games with the Nationals earlier this season.
2. Giants OF Hunter Pence is 5-for-12 (.417) with a homer against Wood.
3. The Cubs are 11-3 against NL West teams at Wrigley Field, but 0-13 on the road.