Giants out to bust Arrieta’s streak and extend their own, plus lineups
Giants out to bust Arrieta’s streak and extend their own, plus lineups
Last July 25, at Wrigley Field, Cubs starter Jake Arrieta lost a baseball game, 5-0 to the Phillies.
Cole Hamels threw a no-hitter for the Phillies.
Within that stretch are no-hitters against the Dodgers last year and Reds this year and two victories against the Giants.
The first, a 2-0 game at Wrigley Field on Aug. 9, completed a four-game sweep the Cubs view as the launch point toward what they have become.
The Giants also remember that game for Arrieta beaning Nori Aoki and giving him a concussion.
Oh, Arrieta’s three no-decisions during the past 21 starts?
The reigning Cy Young winner will face Jake Peavy, who has steadied himself with one decent and one good start since the awfulness that began his season.
[...] why believe the Giants have a shot?
Pitching built this Giants' win streak.
The other thing to watch Friday is the Giants' bullpen, which has been on a paid vacation.
No reliever has thrown a pitch since Sunday besides Santiago Casilla, who saved Thursday night's win in San Diego.
The relievers should be rested, could be rusty and almost certainly will figure into Friday's game, because Peavy is a max-effort guy who has finished seven innings only once this season.
Even though the Giants are not hitting, manager Bruce Bochy is not ready to change the lineup, so it’s the regular bunch against Arrieta and the Cubs.
Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.