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.