Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants Preview, Friday 8/7, 3:05 CT

Remember what I wrote after Kris Bryant's walkoff homer against the Rockies, which was the first Cubs walkoff when they were behind since Aramis Ramirez against the Brewers in 2007?

Wins like this can springboard a team to a winning streak. I should point out that after A-Ram's 2007 walkoff, the Cubs lost the next day 13-4 -- but after that, won 15 of their next 20 games.

Well. Just as their 2007 counterparts did, the Cubs, somewhat deflated after the walkoff, lost the next game 7-2.

Then they won six straight and are now on a 7-1 run. Let's keep it going.

Here are today's particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Fowler CF, Schwarber LF, Coghlan 2B, Rizzo 1B, Bryant 3B, Soler RF, Ross C, Lester P, Russell SS

The Giants lineup:

Pagan CF, Tomlinson 2B, Duffy 3B, Posey C, Pence RF, Crawford SS, Belt 1B, Maxwell LF, Vogelsong P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Jon Lester Cubs vs. Ryan Vogelsong Giants vs. SF -- vs. Cubs

Jon Lester had an excellent July. Hopefully that continues into August. Lester last faced the Giants in 2013 and current members of their roster are a small-sample-size 7-for-35 (.200) against him with no home runs. Don't have much more to say about Lester other than he's recently started pitching like the "ace" the Cubs thought they were getting last offseason. That's a welcome sign as the playoff race heats up.

Mike Leake, just acquired from the Reds, was originally slated for this start, but he has a hamstring issue and so Ryan Vogelsong takes the start. Vogelsong had been demoted to the bullpen after the All-Star break, and he's been decent, but at 37 he's starting to decline, particularly against lefthanded hitters: he's allowed 13 home runs to LH batters in just 175 at-bats (as opposed to just two HR hit by RH hitters against him in 215 at-bats). Hopefully the Cubs LH hitters can take advantage, particularly Anthony Rizzo, who has two homers in five career AB against Vogelsong.

Today's game is on WGN. For coverage info in other Midwest markets click here (link opens .pdf).

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. If you do go there to interact with Giants fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2015 Game Thread procedure has changed a bit. Here's how it will work going forward.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream™ containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap 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 the game's StoryStream™ as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.