Let's make it 16 straight vs. the NL Central!
Dempster got a nice contract after last season, but it doesn't appear he's earning it. He's striking out less, walking more, and given up nearly double the home runs. His tRA is worst among Cubs starters. He still has the best slider in the majors, but the issue has been his fastball, which has flipflopped from having a +11.8 value last season to -12.9.
Jason Marquis won the game the Rockies took from the Cubs in April, and in his last six starts, he is 3-2 with a 1.84 ERA, tossing a quality start in each game. If he can do that a seventh time, he has a decent chance of getting his 13th win, whatwith the lockdown bullpen Jim Tracy has at his disposal these days.
After Juan Rincon gave up his last run as a Rockie nine days ago, the pen has given up just one run in the last 21.2 IP (Joey Votto's HR off Joe Beimel) for a 0.42 ERA, 0.51 WHIP and 9.55 K/9. That includes a current scoreless streak of 14.0 IP, in which all seven pitches have contributed, allowing just 2 hits in that span. This is just 12 days after a streak of 40 consecutive hitless plate appearances against the pen was snapped by Fernando Tatis' grand slam. You might not have noticed the dominance, but we tend to only really notice the pen when they aren't doing their job.
Think I've jinxed them enough? Nah...I don't believe in jinxes. I think not, therefore it is not. Right?
Barmes is officially getting a break to get his head on straight, as Quintanilla gets his second straight start after going 0-3 with an error last night.
The game is on MLB Network!