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Mets-Cubs Preview

Sep 4, 2010 - 10:59 PM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

New York (66-69) at Chicago (58-77), 2:20 p.m. EDT

The Chicago Cubs are on their way towards missing the postseason for a second consecutive year, but Starlin Castro's streak at the plate has them surging.

The rookie is a major reason the Cubs can complete their first three-game sweep of the struggling New York Mets in over six years Sunday.

Chicago (59-77) is all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. However, the club has won eight of 11 under interim manager Mike Quade, and Castro has been key.

The 20-year-old shortstop has put together a streak of six consecutive multihit games, going 13 for 26 with three doubles, two RBIs and eight runs. The stretch is the longest for a Cubs' rookie since Don Johnson did it from May 21-28, 1944.

Castro's stretch has increased his average 13 points to .321, which leads all rookies. Chicago hasn't had a rookie hit above .320 for a season since Hack Miller batted .352 in 1922.

Quade couldn't resist comparing him to Miguel Tejada - someone he managed in the minors - and Castro appreciated that, saying, "he was one of my favorites" after having two hits and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 win over the Mets (66-70).

Another multihit game would make Castro's streak the longest for a rookie since Florida's Chris Coghlan had an eight-game run from Aug. 1-9, 2009.

Castro has the Cubs in position to sweep a three-game set from New York for the first time since April 23-25, 2004, at Wrigley Field. Completing the sweep would also give Chicago its third season-high four-game winning streak, and first since May 16-19.

Ryan Dempster (12-9, 3.71 ERA) takes the mound looking to rebound from his shortest outing of the season.

The right-hander was pounded for a season-high seven runs and seven hits while walking three in three innings of a 14-7 loss to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. He had been 4-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his previous five starts.

Dempster leads Chicago in wins, strikeouts (172) and his ERA is the lowest of any member of the rotation.

"The job is still the same coming to work. You've got to do your job the best you can. It doesn't say in your contract I'll try as hard as I can as long as we're in it," Dempster said. "Obviously, we would like to be in a better position, but there are still plenty of ballgames left and we have a month left in the season, go out there and play hard every day and try to win as many ballgames as we can."

Dempster is getting his first start against New York since an 11-4 win at Wrigley Field on Aug. 29, 2009.

The Mets, 1-5 on this 10-game trip, give the ball to Jonathon Niese (8-7, 3.70), who has an 8.71 ERA in losing consecutive starts.

The left-hander surrendered eight runs - three earned - and was lifted after serving up a grand slam with two outs in the fifth en route to a 9-2 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday.

Niese is 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in two starts against the Cubs. He didn't get much help in his most recent meeting with Chicago on April 19, allowing one unearned run with seven strikeouts in 5 2-3 innings while the offense backed him with one run as he didn't get a decision in a 6-1 win.

Niese will face Castro for the first time.