Game One Hundred Forty: Cubs (56-83) vs. Pirates (56-84)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 188
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Sean Marshall (5-9, 5.05) vs. Shawn Chacon (6-5, 6.75)
Which Sean/Shawn will be victorious today? Sean Marshall is scheduled to take the mound today for the Cubs in search of his first victory since July 5th in Houston. Marshall pitched very well in his last start against the Giants….his first since being activated from the DL. Marshall worked faster and looked more confident than he had before his injury but his rhythm was disrupted when Michael Barrett left the game. Marshall could not retire Barry Bonds when needed, but this is Bonds’ old team and hopefully Marshall will be able to shake off the 6th inning against the Giants and pitch like he did to start the game.
This is the last game of the season against the Pirates and it should feature the first career start of Scott Moore, Derrek Lee should have today off after playing the first 3 games of the series. Marshall has been one of the bright spots this season for the Cubs and he recorded his first big league win against the Pirates back on April 14th. Marshall has faced the Pirates twice this season and threw a gem against them back on May 1st but he received a no-decision. Marshall is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA (5 runs in 12 1/3 innings, 9 hits). Marshall must keep the ball in the park, in his last 3 starts, 15 innings, he has surrendered 7 long balls.
Shawn Chacon was acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline from the Yankees for Craig Wilson back on July 31st. Chacon is 1-2 with a 6.86 ERA in 5 starts for the Pirates this season. Chacon pitched 5 scoreless innings against the Cardinal last Sunday and allowed just 4 hits while walking 4 and striking out 3. Chacon has trouble throwing strikes and gives up a lot of walks and home runs. In 21 innings with the Pirates he has given up 21 free passes and 5 home runs and on the season he has walked more (57) than he has struck out (47). Chacon is 1-4 with a save in 7 career games against the Cubs, 4 starts, with a 9.27 ERA.
The Cubs will have opportunities to stay out of the cellar….hopefully their aggressiveness will not take over and plunge them back to the bottom of the National League.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….