Game Thirty-Five: Cubs (15-19) vs. Padres (19-16)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 188
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Angel Guzman (0-2, 7.20) vs. Woody Williams (3-1, 3.12)
The road trip is over, their worst since 1971….Kerry Wood is starting tonight for the I-Cubs and this could be Angel Guzman’s last start at the Major League level for a while if he cannot perform and get a win today against Woody Williams and the San Diego Padres. Guzman and Williams faced off last Sunday in San Diego and while the Cubs scored 3 runs, Guzman gave up 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings. The Padres won that game, but the 3 runs the Cubs scored on Sunday was the most they had put on the board in over a week at that point. The Cubs did get to Williams and pounded out 8 hits against the veteran, but only 1 walk.
The Cubs just need to hit and keep their heads-up, put the road trip and the first 11 days of May behind them. The Cubs have only scored more than 3 runs in 1 of their last 13 games and need a winning home stand against the Padres and Washington Nationals before heading south for a weekend series against the White Sox starting next Friday. Right now the Cubs are 4 games under .500 and are in a critical point of their season.
With Wood expected to be back next week, Mark Prior pitching a simulated game this week and Derrek Lee getting his long cast removed today, the Cubs have three of their top guns on the mend and all should be returning soon….but if the team that is currently on the Northside of Chicago does not wake up soon and string some wins together, their return will be meaningless and for a last place team.
The top of the lineup must get on base today after a 0-10 performance on Thursday. The Cubs are near the bottom of the league in scoring and next to last in walks….patience and plate discipline are the keys to today’s game, Williams will beat himself if the Cubs allow him to do so.
Don’t forget the Kerry Wood rehab game tonight at 7:05pm C.T.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….