Game Sixty-Two: Cubs (25-36) vs. Phillies (37-26)
Game Time – 6:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 89
Location – Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Carlos Zambrano (5-2, 3.98/1.24) vs. Roy Halladay (8-2, 2.56/1.07)
The Cubs have won two games in a row … and in order for Q’s squad to win three in a row for the first time this season they will have to beat one of the best in the game, Roy Halladay.
The Cubs have had success against Halladay in the past (0-3 in three starts) but with the way the Cubs offense has struggled against average starting pitchers this season, Halladay figures to have a field day tonight.
With Carlos Zambrano and Roy Halladay on the mound, don’t blink or the game could be over. Unless the two teams play into extra innings, tonight’s game should take less than half the time of Thursday’ 11-inning contest (five hours and 21 minutes including the rain delay).
In other news … Jeff Baker and Reed Johnson were both 0-for-2 in the rain-shortened game in Des Moines. The Cubs would like for Reed Johnson to return for Saturday’s game, but it all depends on how his back responds.
Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano … Carlos Zambrano is coming off an excellent outing against the St. Louis Cardinals. Z put his team in position to win a ballgame but Carlos Marmol could not retire Ryan Theriot to end the game. The Cubs lost after Pujols hit his second walk off homer in as many days.
Zambrano blew up following the loss but did not say anything that did not need to be said. Z spoke the truth but predictably he became the story and not the horrible team on the field.
Carlos Zambrano has not allowed more than one earned run in each of his last three starts … but has only one run to show for it. Z is 1-0 in his last three outings with a 1.13 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP.
Tonight will be Big Z’s ninth career start against the Phillies. Zambrano is 4-3 in nine career games, eight starts, with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP … at Citizens Bank Park, 2-2 in five games, four starts, with a 4.28 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP.
Phillies Career Numbers against Carlos Zambrano
- Ryan Howard – 4-for-16 with a double and a walk
- Placido Polanco – 2-for-13 with a double and a triple
- Jimmy Rollins – 3-for-20 with a double and 2 walks
- Carlos Ruiz – 1-for-3
- Chase Utley – 3-for-17 with a double and a walk
- Shane Victorino – 5-for-10 with 2 walks
Roy Halladay is coming off a win against the Pirates (two runs on six hits in seven innings with a walk and six strikeouts) and has not lost a game since the Braves beat him on May 15.
Halladay posted a 3-2 record in six starts last month with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP … and he’s 4-1 in seven home starts this season with a 2.66 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
The Cubs have had success in the past against Roy Halladay. Halladay has faced the Cubs three times and lost all three …0-3 with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Roy Halladay
- Starlin Castro – 2-for-3
- Tyler Colvin – 2-for-3
- Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-3
- Carlos Pena – 14-for-58 with 4 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and a walk
- Aramis Ramirez – 2-for-13
- Geovany Soto – 1-for-3 with a home run
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