After playing spoiler to one playoff contender over the weekend, the San Francisco Giants welcome another postseason hopeful to town when they begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Monday. The Cubs hit the West Coast clinging to a half-game lead over Milwaukee in the National League Central after dropping four of their last five.
The Giants took two of three from NL wild card hopeful Arizona over the weekend, winning 6-3 in the rubber match Sunday behind Jarrett Parker’s first home run of the season. "We've been through a lot," Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters. "We're banged up. We brought in some young kids to get them some playing time, and yet we go out there and play some great baseball. With what we've been through, it is nice to take a series against a club that's having a very good year." San Francisco has won six of its last nine home games against the Cubs but is an NL-worst 25-31 at home this season. The Cubs have won 11 of their last 12 on the road.
TV: 10:08 p.m. ET, ESPN, WGN (Chicago), NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (10-8, 3.88 ERA) vs. Giants LH Matt Moore (3-11, 5.80)
Arrieta took a tough-luck loss Wednesday against Arizona, but he posted his fourth straight quality start to begin the second half. The 31-year-old limited Arizona to two runs (one earned) over seven innings and struck out eight in a 3-0 defeat and has posted a 2.08 ERA over his last six starts. Arrieta is 4-2 with a 1.82 ERA in six starts against the Giants, including a 3-1 mark and 2.08 ERA in four outings at AT&T Park.
Moore is winless in seven starts since June 20, and he has posted only two quality starts over that stretch. The 28-year-old gave up four runs and six hits over five innings in a loss to Oakland on Wednesday, as he surrendered a home run for the fifth straight start. Moore faced the Cubs for the first time May 24 and allowed four runs (three earned) over six-plus innings to take the loss in a 5-4 defeat.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cubs C Willson Contreras belted two home runs Sunday and has 10 since the All-Star break, tied with Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton for the most in the NL.
2. Giants OF Hunter Pence is 11-for-32 with three homers and eight RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak.
3. Chicago RF Jason Heyward recorded his 1,000th career hit when he notched three in Sunday's contest.