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Cubs, Yankees highlight interleague matchups
The New York Yankees make a rare visit
to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs in interleague play
this weekend. The second game of the three-game series goes on
Saturday afternoon at the Friendly Confines (4:10 PM ET, FOX).
The Yankees will be without Derek Jeter (calf, 15-day disabled list)
against the Cubs, but their offense should be able to make up for
his absence. Chicago comes into the weekend ranked at or near the
bottom of the league in team ERA, WHIP, and quality starts.
Ryan Dempster (5-5, 5.48 ERA) gets the ball for the Cubs on
Saturday, and while he�s struggled like many of the rest of his
teammates, Chicago has cashed when he�s been on the mound. The Cubs
are 6-1 against the moneyline in Dempster�s last seven starts.
That said, Dempster has pitched well recently. The righthander has
allowed only one run over his last two outings � a span of 13
innings � and Chicago won both those games.
New York had yet to announce their starter as of press, but it was
expected to go with A.J. Burnett (6-5, 4.09 ERA). The Yanks are
currently priced as +800 underdogs to win the World Series at
Oddsmaker.
Alfonso Soriano (quadriceps) has been activated from the disabled
list by the Cubs, who are without Kerry Wood (finger).
Elsewhere on Saturday, the Atlanta Braves host the Texas Rangers in
the middle game of a three-game set at Turner Field (4:10 PM ET,
FOX).
The Braves turn to Derek Lowe (3-5, 4.02 ERA) on Saturday, and
they�re looking to keep rolling with the veteran righty on the
mound. Atlanta is 7-2 against the moneyline in Lowe�s last nine
starts.
Keep an eye on the official pitching matchup. The Rangers� Matt
Harrison (5-6, 3.31 ERA) is the scheduled starter, but he's dealt
with both a bruised triceps and a kidney stone over the past week.
On Friday night, the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics
renew their Bay Area rivalry with the opener of a three-gamer at the
Coliseum. Tim Lincecum (5-5, 3.41 ERA) aims to end his struggles for
the Giants, while Graham Godfrey (0-0, 10.38 ERA) makes his second
career major league start for the Athletics.
Oakland could be just what the doctor ordered for Lincecum. The wiry
righty is 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA in his last three starts, but he
dominated the A�s on May 21 in San Francisco.
Lincecum tossed a complete-game,
three-hit shutout in the Giants� 3-0 win as -145 favorites over the
A�s that day. San Francisco swept the three-game set between the
teams at AT&T Park earlier in the season. |
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