Dempster aims for Smoltz
As the baseball season enters its final week, all that counts now is a few more chances for Cubs players to pad their statistics.
On that note, Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.68) will try to join rare company with a win Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The teams play at 7:05 p.m., and the game will air on WGN-TV and WGN-AM 720.
If Dempster earns the victory, he will have 87 career wins to go with 87 career saves. The only other active pitcher who can claim that distinction is future Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who has 213 career wins and 154 career saves.
Although the Cubs have faltered this season, Dempster has emerged down the stretch to drop his ERA before 4.00. He has not allowed a run in his past 17 innings at Wrigley Field, which dates to Aug. 29, and he has lasted at least six innings in his past 11 starts.
Former Cubs right-hander Kevin Hart (4-8, 5.38) will start for the Pirates. Hart has gone 1-7 with a 6.93 ERA since the Cubs dealt him and two others to Pittsburgh for John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny just before the trade deadline.
-Tom Musick
