Ryan Dempster will try to halt the Cubs 7 game skid, but it might take a shutout.

It's been a brutal brutal week for the Cubs, dropping 7 straight games and scoring just 5 runs in their last 6. I have been following and watching nearly every Cubs game for close to 20 years and I really can't remember a week this bad. As Clapp said yesterday, it might have been their worst road trip ever. I'm not sure how you could possibly get much worse.

Today the Cubs finally return to Wrigley Field and try to snap out of it. If there is a team they could choose to play it might just be the Pirates, who they will face tonight at 7 CT. Last season the Cubs went 14-4 against the Pirates, including taking 7 of 9 at Wrigley. Still it seems like anyone with an arm could hold the Cubs offense down right now, and the Pirates will have much better than that on the hill tonight. Their ace Paul Maholm will take the mound with an ERA of 3.30, he and Zach Duke have been the Pirates two consistent starting pitchers this year.

The Cubs faced Maholm twice last year, winning one match-up and losing the other. They did manage to score 10 runs off him in 14 innings however, so lets hope that trend continues. Right now 10 runs in 14 innings off anyone would seem like an absolute miracle.

The Cubs will send Ryan Dempster to the mound today to face Maholm. Dempster has struggled to find the magic he had last year, but seems to have re-gained some of his command and had a real nice start his last time out. Of course pitching has not been the Cubs problem and I expect Dempster to have a fine outing tonight against a weak Pirates lineup. Dempster comes in with a 3-3 record and a 4.40 ERA. Last season he faced the Pirates twice, going 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in in 12 innings.

Hopefully the Cubs will be able to get Derrek Lee back in the lineup tonight. He missed the game yesterday due to an illness. He has been one of the only Cubs hitting right now and they could certainly use his bat. It will also be interesting to see if and when Lou ever decides to try out his earlier suggestion of moving Soriano to 2B, to allow Hollywood Hoffpauir to get some at-bats in left. Lou said that would be a last resort to help the offense, but it seems like he can't be too far away from his last resort at this point. I'm not sure how much of a boost it would be right now anyway considering Soriano is swinging the bat like a light hitting pitcher right now.

Whatever the lineup is that Lou throws out there, The Cubs better hope they turn things around and fast or they could hear a whole lot of boos this week. The Wrigley faithful seem to be in a grumpy mood this season after the Cubs were once again swept out of the division series to end the season last year. Nearly everyone has heard boos already this year from veterans like Lee to new comers like Milton Bradley..... and that was before this nightmare of a week began.

Anyway, the game will be on WGN at 7. I think Clapp is planning a live blog for one of the games this series, so when you get back from your Memorial Day barbecues, check back during the game and hang out with a couple of crazy Cubs fans while you watch it.


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