I'm backing the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Jason Hammel may not have fit in as a member of the Oakland A's, but he's been pretty special in both stints in Chicago. The right-hander bounced back well last time out after a tough go of it against the Phillies. Hammel held the Brewers to one earned run in a 4-1 Cubs win. He heads into this one with a 0.99 WHIP and .219 BAA in nine home starts in 2015 and Hammel has been at his best in August and September over the last three seasons. Even better, he'll face a SFO lineup that won't include Buster Posey (rest) in all likelihood and Posey has been red hot at the plate of late. Chris Heston has certainly put up nice numbers for the Giants, but he's been much better at home than on the road, sporting a 2.57 ERA at AT&T, but a 4.01 ERA everywhere else. SFO enters on a 1-6 slide against teams with a winning record, while the Cubs are on a 5-0 run against righties and they're 7-2 in Hammel's last nine starts against teams with a winning record. I'm backing the Cubs on Thursday, my KO release. Thanks & GL! Scott Spreitzer.

08/06/2015 6:05 AM