Cubs vs. Giants Preview, Wednesday 5/28, 2:45 CT

The Cubs won series in San Francisco in consecutive years in 2008 and 2009. Why, that's not so very long ago! They should be able to do it again now, right?

Oh, right. This year's team isn't as good as the 2008 and 2009 squads. Nevertheless, they have done reasonably well so far this road trip -- 3-3, much better than most recent West Coast swings -- so why not?

Oh, right. The pitching matchup. Have a look.

Cubs lineup:

 Bonifacio 2B, Lake CF, Rizzo 1B, Castro SS, Schierholtz RF, Olt 3B, Coghlan LF, Baker C, Jackson P

Today will be the third game this year started by John Baker with a starting pitcher other than Jason Hammel. April 6, he caught Carlos Villanueva and the Cubs won. April 12, Villanueva again, and the Cubs lost.

So it's his first time catching Edwin Jackson. Result? Who knows?

Giants lineup:

Pagan CF, Pence RF, Posey 1B, Sandoval 3B, Sanchez C, Colvin LF, Crawford SS, Adrianza 2B, Lincecum P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Edwin Jackson Cubs vs. Tim Lincecum Giants vs. SF -- vs. Cubs

Let's see, if this is Wednesday this is Edwin Jackson's day to be... good? Bad? I have no idea, and probably, he doesn't either. Current Giants are hitting .315 (23-for-73) against him with two home runs (Tyler Colvin and Pablo Sandoval). Yeah, I can see those two taking Jackson deep; the ball carries better at AT&T Park in day games than in night games. Good luck, Edwin, you're gonna need it.

I'm sorry, but I have to do this before I write about Tim Lincecum's pitching. That photo... I mean, he looks like your younger high-school friend who was desperately trying to grow facial hair in order to look older. Only in this case, this "kid" is going to turn 30 in about two weeks. Maybe when he's 40, he'll be able to grow a proper mustache.

Lincecum is the cautionary tale about signing pitchers to long-term extensions. When the Giants did that, he looked like long-term ace material, but he really hasn't been any good since 2011 and has been mediocre again this year. In 12 career starts vs. the Cubs he has a 3.59 ERA and 1.146 WHIP and 84 strikeouts in 77⅔ innings. He pitched pretty well against the Cubs in the series in San Francisco last year, but the Cubs won the game anyway.

In short, who knows?

Today's game is on CSN Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles.

For 2014, we are going to have the same game-thread routine as 2013. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.

You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.