AP photo: Cancer survivor Audrey Hughes throws out the first pitch before Friday’s game between the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

On the MLB podcast with Tony the Chicago Cubs were going to be a challenge for the San Francisco Giants going into the current four game series in Wrigley. The Cubs who occupy first place in the NL Central are looking to take this series from the Giants with their line up, pitching, home field and manager Joe Maddon. Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija struggled in a short performance during Thursday’s outing going four innings, five hits, three runs, all earned, three walks, and three strike outs. Samardzija didn’t get the loss.

Oakland A’s got a day off on Thursday rest in important with all the injuries they’ve had and they needed going into this three game series with the Boston Red Sox who are just two games back in the AL East behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays. The A’s have a clubhouse full of call ups so this is a series where manager Bob Melvin wants to win and a series where A’s vice president and co-owner Billy Beane wants to see whose coming up from their triple A farm system in Nashville.

Tony Renteria does the MLB podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com