Game Sixty-Six: Cubs (26-39) vs. Brewers (38-29)
Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Randy Wells (1-1, 6.50/1.50) vs. Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 3.96/1.40)
Updated 6:05pm CDT – Reed Johnson Activated from 15-day DL – Tyler Colvin Optioned to Triple-A Iowa
Updated 2:53pm CDT – Cubs Selected the contract of RHP Chris Carpenter from Double-A Tennessee – Cubs Optioned Casey Coleman to Triple-A Iowa
One of the many problems of the 2011 version of the Chicago Cubs has been consistency. One night they resemble a Major League team and the next game they look like a lower level minor league squad trying to learn how to play the game. As the cliche goes, momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher and Randy Wells gets the ball tonight.
The Cubs need for Randy Wells to put together a nice long outing and basically picking up where Ryan Dempster left off Monday night. The Brewers can score at will and if Wells struggles early it figures to be a long night for the Cubs at the old ballyard.
The Cubs’ rotation has struggled this season, especially in the backend. In games started by Doug Davis, James Russell, Rodrigo Lopez and Casey Coleman, the Cubs have two wins (2-19). It is past time for the starters to go deeper into games and give the bullpen a break.
Reed Johnson could be activated from the DL either today or prior to Wednesday’s game. Chris Narveson is scheduled to start Wednesday night..
In other news … Alfonso Soriano was 1-for-4 with a run scored Monday night in his second rehab game with the I-Cubs. Soriano is 1-for-7 in two games and is expected to suit up tonight for one final time before returning to the big league club on Wednesday.
Marlon Byrd took batting practice Monday for the first time. Byrd is hoping to go out on a rehab assignment in two weeks and return to the Cubs lineup in three weeks.
In order for the Cubs to post back-to-back wins at home for the first time since April (April 18 and April 20 against the Padres), the Cubs will have to put runs on the board against Yovani Gallardo … but tonight it all starts with Randy Wells. Randy Wells started the opener in Philly and was facing Ryan Howard when the high winds forced the umps to delay the game. Wells did not return after the one hour and 17 minute delay, which ended up being somewhat of a positive for the Cubs. Wells was struggling with his command, ran up his pitch count and allowed three runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
The Cubs need a long outing from Randy Wells tonight in his fourth start since returning from the DL.
Tonight will be Wells’ third start of the year at Wrigley. Wells is 1-1 in the first two with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. Wells is looking for his first win since April 4.
Randy Wells has had moderate success against the Brewers in his short career. Wells is 2-2 in eight career games, six starts, with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP … last season, 1-1 in three starts with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.
Brewers Career Numbers against Randy Wells
- Ryan Braun – 6-for-17 with a double and a walk
- Craig Counsell – 2-for-9 with 2 doubles
- Prince Fielder – 6-for-15 with a double, a home run and a walk
- Yovani Gallardo – 0-for-1
- Carlos Gomez – 1-for-3
- Corey Hart – 4-for-15 with 2 doubles
- Jonathan Lucroy – 1-for-2
- Casey McGehee – 3-for-6 with a home run
- Nyjer Morgan – 2-for-3 with a double and a walk
- Wil Nieves – 1-for-2
- Rickie Weeks – 4-for-13 with 2 doubles
Yovani Gallardo is without a doubt one of the best young pitchers in the league … but he’s been extremely inconsistent this season.
Gallardo lost to the Mets in his last outing and gave up four runs on 10 hits with a walk and five strikeouts in four innings of work … it was his first loss since May 2. Gallardo put together a horrible April (2-1 in five starts with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP), an outstanding May (5-1 in six starts with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP) and is 1-1 in his last two outings with a 4.50 ERA and a 1.90 WHIP.
The overly aggressive Cubs offense must be patient tonight against Gallardo … like they were back on April 10 in Milwaukee. The Cubs had Gallardo on the ropes after scoring four runs on seven hits in five innings (four walks and two strikeouts) but Casey McGehee made his old team pay once again.
Yovani Gallardo is 3-1 in eight career starts versus the Cubs with a 3.61 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP … at Wrigley Field, 1-1 in four starts with a 5.01 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Yovani Gallardo
- Jeff Baker – 0-for-1
- Darwin Barney – 1-for-4 with a walk
- Starlin Castro – 5-for-12 with 3 doubles
- Tyler Colvin – 2-for-12 with a double
- Blake DeWitt – 0-for-6
- Kosuke Fukudome – 5-for-15 with a double and 3 walks
- Koyie Hill – 0-for-3
- Reed Johnson – 0-for-2 with a walk
- Carlos Pena – 0-for-2 with a walk
- Aramis Ramirez – 6-for-13 with 4 doubles and a walk
- Geovany Soto – 4-for-15 with a double, a home run and 2 walks
- Randy Wells – 0-for-1
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