The Chicago Cubs (57-80) host the San Francisco Giants (65-72) at Wrigley Field on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Giants are in the midst of an eight-game road trip. They are coming off a two-game sweep at the hands of the Brewers, dropping both games of a series-ending doubleheader on Thursday at American Family Field. They followed up a 2-1 loss in the opener with a 4-2 defeat in the second leg for their fourth straight loss. Joc Pederson was 1 for 3 with a solo home run in the finale. Mike Yastrzemski added a triple and one run. The Cubs are in the midst of a six-game homestand. They lost two of three against the Reds in their last series, dropping the finale 4-3 on Thursday at Wrigley Field. Seiya Suzuki went 2 for 4 with a home run and a double. He scored two runs. Nico Hoerner added a triple and a double. He scored one run.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
The Giants have won three of four in the season series between the teams, including a 4-0 victory in their most recent meeting on July 31 at Oracle Park. Starter Carlos Rodon threw seven scoreless innings- striking out 10 – for the win.
ON THE MOUND
Rodon (12-7, 2.92 ERA) is in line for the start for San Francisco. The southpaw leads the NL in strikeouts (201). Rodon threw six scoreless innings in his last start, a 5-3 road win over the Phillies on Sunday. He scattered five hits while striking out 10 and walking two in the no-decision. Rodon has made one previous start against the Cubs this season, a 4-0 home victory on July 31. He allowed two hits over seven scoreless innings, striking out 10.For Chicago, southpaw Drew Smyly (5-8, 3.84 ERA) gets the ball. He has made one prior start against the Giants this season, giving up five runs over four innings in a 5-4 road defeat on July 30. He gave up seven hits and walked two, while striking out five in the loss. In his last start on Saturday, Smyly took the loss on the road against the Cardinals. He threw 2.1 innings and gave up seven runs on five hits, striking out three and walking three in the 8-4 defeat.
AT THE PLATE
The San Francisco offense is averaging 4.4 runs per game for the season, with a slash line of ././.. Wilmer Flores leads the team in OPS at .747. The second baseman is slashing .242/.327/.420 with 17 home runs, 63 RBIs, and 65 runs over 130 games. Over the last five games, though, San Francisco has averaged only 3.2 runs a game. Against lefties like Smyly this season, the Giants have a .751 OPS. Thairo Estrada is the team’s most productive hitter against left-handers with a .858 OPS in 128 at-bats. Chicago is slashing .241/.313/.390 for the season and averaging 4.1 runs per game. Willson Contreras leads the team with a .822 OPS. The catcher has 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 63 runs scored with a slash line of .246/.351/.471. The Cubs have a .698 OPS against left-handers in 2022. With a .873 OPS over 99 at-bats, Contreras also has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
San Francisco is on a four-game losing streak in road games, bringing their record to 28-40 in 2022. The Giants have scored 4.3 runs per game away from home, while allowing 4.7 runs. Chicago has gone 29-40 at home this season, averaging 4.1 runs per game while surrendering 4.6. Chicago is 6-4 in the last 10 games between the teams at Wrigley Field despite an average scoreline favoring San Francisco (5.2-5.1).
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Giants are third in the NL West, 28 games behind the division-leading Dodgers. They are fifth in the Wild Card race, nine games out of third. The Cubs are third in the NL Central, 23 games behind the Cardinals.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
San Francisco Giants (-165)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
