Game Seventy-One: Cubs (27-43) vs. Indians (32-38)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 176
Location – Jacobs Field, Cleveland
Carlos Zambrano (5-3, 2.82) vs. C.C. Sabathia (5-3, 3.08)
This should be a great pitchers duel….Zambrano vs. Sabathia, the Cubs best versus the Indians best. Carlos Zambrano has been just short of perfect over his last three starts, he is 2-0 with a 0.79 ERA allowing only 2 runs on 10 hits. Zambrano came very close to a no-hitter on June 5th in Houston and in his last 9 starts he has only allowed 11 runs on 33 hits….just short of brilliant, unfortunately he is 5-1 with 3 no decisions. Sabathia has not been as effective in his last three starts and is 0-2 with a 6.88 ERA. The Indians lefty will look to add to the Cubs frustration on the season against left-handers. Beside the record (7-16) the Cubs are hitting only .222/.285/.358 with 19 home runs and 67 RBI’s on the season against southpaws, last in the National League, while they are hitting .274/.322/.409 with 41 home runs and 196 RBI’s against right-handed pitching, second in the National League.
Sabathia has been hit hard as of late, he has surrendered 5 home runs in his last 4 starts (23 innings) and given up 26 hits. After a injury shortened April and an impressive May (5-1, 1.20 ERA) he has struggled in June and has walked 9 and struck out only 21. This could be the right time to face Sabathia but the Cubs have not been able to hit mediocre lefties this season, much less a pitcher of Sabathia’s caliber….this could be a very quick game and one decided by the bullpens.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….