The Cubs vs Giants prediction on Friday changed before the first pitch, as Chicago delayed its 1:20 p.m. opener against San Francisco because of weather in the area. The club was aiming for a 2:20 p.m. first pitch at Wrigley Field.
Wrigley Field and the delay
Chicago announced the delay at 12:40 p.m., pushing back the start of the first game in a three-game set against the Giants. Fans at Wrigley Field were told to watch the video board for updates, the clearest sign that the timing could still move again before the teams got underway.
The game carried extra weight on the schedule because the Giants were making their only visit to Wrigley Field this season. A delay in the opener also affects the pace of a series the Cubs had lined up to begin on Friday afternoon, with both clubs waiting on the revised first pitch before they could settle into the matchup.
Edward Cabrera and J.T. Ginn
Edward Cabrera was set to take the ball after coming off the injured list because of a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. He was scheduled to face right-hander J.T. Ginn, keeping the pitching matchup intact even as the start time moved.
The Giants arrived in Chicago wrapping up a three-city, 10-game trip with mixed results at the plate and on the mound. They were hitting.335 on the trip, had launched 9 home runs, and had pitched to a 7.69 ERA, a split that gives this delay a clear follow-through once the game starts.
Giants finish the trip
For San Francisco, the afternoon now comes with a short wait but the same task: finish the road trip and get through the opener at Wrigley once the weather lets the game begin. The Cubs’ next move is simpler too, with the first pitch now tied to the ballpark update rather than the original 1:20 start.
