Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Giants – 06/29/11

Ryan Dempster (5-6, 5.31/1.49) vs. Tim Lincecum (6-6, 3.16/1.19)

Updated 4:24pm CDT – Darwin Barney activated from 15-day DL – Cubs Released Doug Davis

How will the Cubs respond to another embarrassing day at the ballpark? The Giants beat up Q’s squad pretty good in the day-night doubleheader and it will not get any easier tonight with Tim Lincecum on the mound.

The Cubs have lost four of their last five games and in order to keep from falling even further below .500 they will have to take advantage of every opportunity that Tim Lincecum gives them.

Darwin Barney rejoined the big league club on Tuesday night after finishing his rehab stint with the I-Cubs earlier in the day. Barney will be activated prior to tonight’s game and is expected to be in the starting lineup. The Cubs will have to make a corresponding roster move and look for that move to be a pitcher … either down to Triple-A or to the DL.

The Cubs optioned D.J. LeMahieu to Triple-A Iowa between game one and game two Tuesday to make room on the active roster for Marcos Mateo.

In other news … Kerry Wood is expected to throw a simulated game today. The Cubs have not announced a timetable for his return. Marlon Byrd hit a three-run homer in his second rehab game on Tuesday. Byrd is on track to return either in the finale against the Sox or on the 4th of July in the opener against the Nationals.

Tonight marks the halfway point of the Cubs season … and it all starts with Ryan Dempster. Ryan Dempster is coming off another rough outing and received a no decision against the Royals last Friday night. Dempster allowed four runs, two earned, on nine hits in six innings of work with a walk and four strikeouts. The two unearned runs were due to Dempster’s own error.

The Cubs Opening Day starter has not posted a win since June 8 and he has struggled with his command in every outing since beating the Reds in Cincinnati. Mike Quade needs something out of Dempster he’s not done this season … give his team a long eight-inning outing and a win against Tim Lincecum.

Ryan Dempster is 1-2 in his last five starts with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

Dempster beat the Giants back on May 13. Dempster struck out a season-high 11 batters and issued just one free pass in six innings … with two runs on six hits in a 11-4 Cubs victory.

Tonight will be Dempster 15th career start versus San Francisco. Dempster is 5-8 (with four saves) in 24 career games, 14 starts, with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

Giants Career Numbers against Ryan Dempster

• Pat Burrell – 8-for-29 with 5 doubles and 8 walks
• Emmanuel Burriss – 1-for-4
• Bill Hall – 4-for-19 with a home run
• Aubrey Huff – 5-for-23 with 2 doubles and 2 walks
• Cody Ross – 2-for-12 with a double, a triple and a walk
• Aaron Rowand – 1-for-13 with 2 walks
• Pablo Sandoval – 4-for-9 with a double
• Nate Schierholtz – 3-for-5
• Miguel Tejada – 8-for-25 with a double, a home run and a walk
• Andres Torres – 2-for-10
• Eli Whiteside – 0-for-1

The Cubs postponed their date with ‘The Freak‘ back in May but will get the pleasure of facing him tonight. Tim Lincecum had a rough start to the month of June but has righted the ship and is coming off a tremendous outing against the Twins. Lincecum three seven innings of three-hit shut out ball with 12 strikeouts.

Lincecum is 1-2 in his last five starts with a 5.72 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP … but has allowed only two earned runs in his last two outings (13 innings).

Tim Lincecum is 3-3 in seven career starts against the Cubs with a 3.50 ERA and a 1.12 WHIP … at Wrigley, 2-0 in three starts with a 1.69 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Tim Lincecum

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-1 with 2 walks
• Starlin Castro – 2-for-3
• Ryan Dempster – 1-for-4
• Blake DeWitt – 6-for-15 with a double and a walk
• Kosuke Fukudome – 3-for-12 with a double, a home run and a walk
• Koyie Hill – 2-for-9 with a home run and a walk
• Reed Johnson – 1-for-5 with a double
• Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-15
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-5
• Geovany Soto – 0-for-3

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