Chicago Cubs open three-game series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday – MLB News
The three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and the San Francisco Giants will start from Friday, August 31 at Wrigley Field. The Cubs, which are struggling a great bit, are expected to have an enormous challenge facing the powerful and seemingly invulnerable pitchers of the Giants.
The last time two teams confronted each other in four-game series in early June, it was the Giants which swept the series. The Cubs will have to be wholly prepared to face the National League West leader in the series.
Cubs' manager Dale Sveum knows the strengths of the Giants as far as the pitching is concerned.
"That pitching staff is one of the tops in baseball, and that's with Lincecum having a tough year," Cubs' manager Dale Sveum said. "We have three guys coming in who will be tough to score runs on, especially [Friday] with Bumgarner."
What the Cubs realise is the fact that they are hardly making any stride as far as their offence is concerned. They are currently sitting 15th in the National League batting average. Dale Sveum thinks the best team should be put on the field to achieve the desired results.
He said, "We have to put the best team on the field. You're trying to put the best team on the field, especially against the teams that are in first place and do the best you can against those guys."
Dale Sveum, nonetheless, does not find it reassuring that the majority of the players in the line-up are struggling. The fact that very few players have performed up to the mark raises a lot of questions.
"It's not good when everybody in the lineup is struggling at the same time," Sveum said.
With 7-21 record in August, the Cubs will be looking to rebound, finishing the season in a decent spot on the table. It is the Houston Astros which stand sixth in the National League Central ranking.
The three-game series against the Giants will determine the strength and ability of the Chicago Cubs to overwhelm a stronger side. It is Chris Volstad who will start the opening game on Friday, while Bumgarner will pitch for the Giants.
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