Game Sixty-Seven: Cubs (27-39) vs. Brewers (38-30)
Game Time – 7:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 187
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (3-4, 4.32/1.31) vs. Chris Narveson (3-4, 4.32/1.37)
Updated 4:18pm CDT - Alfonso Soriano Activated from 15-day DL – Darwin Barney Placed on 15-day DL with Grade 3 PCL Sprain in Left Knee
Weather permitting … The Chicago Cubs will try to post their first three-game winning streak of the season. The Cubs are the only team in baseball that has not posted three consecutive victories this season. In order for the Cubs to win the elusive third game in a row they will have to beat Chris Narveson for the first time.
The Cubs are expected to activate Alfonso Soriano from the 15-day DL today … and place Darwin Barney on the 15-day DL with a Grade 1 PCL strain in his right knee. Soriano has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a left quad strain. Soriano spent time in Mesa before going on a rehab stint with the Iowa Cubs. Soriano finished his three rehab games 1-for-13 with a run scored.
The Cubs made four roster moves prior to Tuesday’s game and will make at least two more today.
Reed Johnson was activated from the 15-day DL on Tuesday and Chris Carpenter received his call to the show … while Casey Coleman and Tyler Colvin were optioned down to Triple-A Iowa.
The Cubs 40-man roster currently stands at 40 players so if Jim Hendry continues to go outside of the box, he will have to clear space on the 40-man roster.
Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano … After two excellent outings, Carlos Zambrano struggled in his last start after Mike Quade left Big Z in too long. Z allowed seven runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings with seven walks and five strikeouts. The big hit was the grand slam in the seventh by Placido Polanco. Don’t be surprised if Mike Quade shortens up Zambrano tonight … Z threw 128 pitches in his last start, the most for Zambrano in a single start since May of 2008.
Z was 2-1 in six starts last month with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP … Z is 0-1 in his last two with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP.
Zambrano beat the Brewers in Milwaukee back on April 8. Prince Fielder and company scored four runs on seven hits (three walks, five strikeouts) in six innings.
Carlos Zambrano is 13-8 in 32 career games, 29 starts, versus the Brewers with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP.
Brewers Career Numbers against Carlos Zambrano
- Yuniesky Betancourt – 2-for-3
- Ryan Braun – 9-for-37 with a double, a home run and 4 walks
- Craig Counsell – 8-for-33 with 2 doubles and 7 walks
- Prince Fielder – 15-for-43 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs and 15 walks
- Carlos Gomez – 2-for-4
- Corey Hart – 8-for-30 with a double, a triple and 5 walks
- Mark Kotsay – 1-for-9 with a walk
- Jonathan Lucroy – 2-for-4
- Casey McGehee – 4-for-16 with a home run and 3 walks
- Nyjer Morgan – 8-for-22 with a walk
- Wil Nieves – 2-for-4
- Rickie Weeks – 9-for-45 with 2 doubles, a home run and a walk
Chris Narveson is coming off his best start of the season … eight innings of shutout ball against the St. Louis Cardinals. Narveson dominated the Redbirds in his last outing, like he did the Cubs back in April. Narveson struck out six, walked one and surrendered six hits to a much better offense than the one on the North Side of Chicago.
Narveson has been inconsistent this season but has a knack for taking advantage of overly aggressive offenses … insert 2011 Chicago Cubs team photo here.
The veteran southpaw is 1-0 in his last two starts with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP.
Narveson is winless on the road this season (0-3 in seven starts with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP) but has never lost a game at Wrigley (2-0 in seven career games, one start, with a 3.00 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP).
Chris Narveson has never lost to the Chicago Cubs. He is 4-0 in 10 career games, three starts, with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Chris Narveson
- Jeff Baker – 2-for-8 with a walk
- Starlin Castro – 2-for-6
- Blake DeWitt – 2-for-4 with a double
- Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-3
- Carlos Pena – 1-for-3
- Aramis Ramirez – 2-for-11 with a home run and a walk
- Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-9 with a walk
- Geovany Soto – 4-for-10 with a double and 3 walks
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