Gameday Open Thread

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A great pitching matchup between two All-Stars to end the pre-ASG schedule for 2008.

Lincecum has been everything the Giants hoped he would be; Dempster has been more than the Cubs could ever have hoped. Dempster remains undefeated this season at Wrigley (10-0, 2.58); Lincecum was undefeated on the road until losing to the Mets at Shea this past Tuesday. He's still a none-too-shabby 7-1, 2.23 away from AT&T Park.

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On Rich Harden Debut Eve, the Cubs have made a roster move as they open a three-game set against the Giants.

Michael Wuertz, who allowed four runs in an inning-and-one-third against the Reds on Thursday, was sent down to Iowa. Kevin Hart, 2-1, 3.35 for the I-Cubs with 48 K's against 15 BB and a BAA of just .205, gets the call-up.

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Cubs go for the sweep as Bronson Arroyo matches up against the Cubs' new #4 starter.

Lilly was hit hard in his only start against the Reds this year (6 H, 5 ER in 6 IP), a loss back in mid-April; Arroyo, who seemed to be starting against the Cubs every time you turned around last season, going 0-3, 3.58 in five outings, is making his first appearance against the Wrigleys in 2008.

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The amazing Wrigley Field All-Stars continue their tour through the Windy City with the Venezuelan Bull taking the mound against the Red Legs of Queen City and their proimising ace-in-waiting, Kid Cueto. Although he dazzled in his first two starts, he ended up with a 5.40 ERA in April and it wasn't until this past month that he put up the ERA that is expected of him, with a strong 3.47 for the month of June. This will be his second start versus the Northsiders, the first one resulting in a win for him and his team back in May.

Zambrano looked strong after a little disabled list rest and kept the Cardinals bats baffled in his start on Friday. He's been baffling the NL Central his entire career. His career won-loss record, ERA and innings pitched versus his Central foes.

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With just one nightmarish half-inning having prevented them from a sweep of the Cardinals this past weekend, the Cubs return to the 33-10 Confines for three games against the Reds, who just completed a four-game sweep of the Nationals, which is very similar to winning four games from an actual Major League Baseball team.

Ryan Dempster puts his perfect record at Wrigley this season (9-0) up against Aaron Harang, who the Cubs have already thumped twice this year. (For that matter, Dempster had one of his lesser home starts of the season against the Reds back on April 15th, allowing five walks, five hits and four runs in a game the Cubs won anyhow, 9-5.)

In all, the Cubs and Reds have split six games this game, with each club taking two of three on its home field.

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In roster moves, Reed Johnson was activated today with Eric Patterson getting sent down. Matt Murton thanks you Eric Patterson for your defensive ineptitude. Proud papa Aramis Ramirez is back in the lineup as well.