Game Ninety-Four: Cubs (36-57) vs. Astros (46-49)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. WGN, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Carlos Zambrano (9-3, 3.23) vs. Andy Pettitte (8-9, 4.99)
Before this season Andy Pettitte had never beaten the Cubs and the lefty has just added to the Cubs frustration this season against southpaws. Pettitte is 2-0 against the Cubs this year with a 1.38 ERA allowing just 2 runs in each of those games and in his last three games he is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA including a 7 inning shutout performance against the Marlins in which he struck out 10.
Carlos Zambrano has been spectacular having posted 6 straight wins for the Cubs. Today’s match-up should be a good conclusion to a well-pitched series. Zambrano has allowed more than 4 runs only once since April 30th (14 games) and has held his opponents to 2 runs or less 11 times and is coming off of a 2 run, 3 hit performance against the Mets. Zambrano must limit his pitch count and throw strikes. While the Astros are not a very good offensive team, against the Cubs they are very opportunistic and seem to take advantage of every gift they are given. Zambrano is 1-0 against the Astros this year with a 1.66 ERA having allowed just one run in two outings
Something will have to give today; neither pitcher has lost against their division rival this season. The first two games of the series have been decided by mistakes and whoever makes the first one today will likely come out on the short end of the stick.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….