Ryan Dempster looks to end his personal 5-game winless streak. Dempster is 2-4 with a 3.73 ERA, but lack of run support and his propensity to give up the long ball at inopportune timers has come back to bite Dempster this season.  Dempster has won his last 6 decisins against the Dodgers, however, going 6-2 with a 2.25 ERA against them as a starter in his career.

The Cubs are 21-24 and they trail the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds by 5 games in the NL Central race.  This week will go a long way in determining the rest of the season for the Cubs.  Facing the red-hot Reds the next 3 games and the Cards over the weekend, the Cubs will have to perform at an optimum level.

Let’s hope the Cubs can get it done this week.  They are riding a 2-game winning streak and have won 8 of their last 10 games.  They are also looking to win their season-high 4th game in a row at home…