Game One Hundred Forty-One: Cubs (56-84) vs. Braves (66-73)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. Comcast Sports Net, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location – Turner Field, Atlanta
Angel Guzman (0-4, 7.05) vs. Tim Hudson (11-10, 4.95)
Welcome to Hotlanta and the Braves….Angel Guzman is scheduled to take the mound against Tim Hudson and on paper this is a mismatch to say the least. Guzman has the stuff to be successful at the Major League level but has yet to show it on a consistent basis, it seems that he has the “every-other-start” syndrome, which means this could be another long night for the Cubs bullpen. Guzman threw well against the Giants last Sunday but left one out short of qualifying for the win with a cramp in his forearm, the Cubs eventually lost the game, but Guzman was effective early on and with Jae Kuk Ryu scheduled to pitch on Saturday the Cubs need a quality start from the young righty.
After tonight there are only 20 games left in 2006 and only one more road trip after this 4-game series that will run through the weekend and conclude on Monday.
Updated – 5:21pm C.T. – The Cubs announced on Friday afternoon that Wade Miller will make his Cub debut and start on Saturday against the Braves instead of Jae Kuk Ryu. Ryu had been listed as the possible replacement for Carlos Zambrano who will skip his start on Saturday. Guzman has pitched better out of the pen than he has a starter, which could prove to be valuable next season for the Cubs. Hopefully Jim Hendry will wise up and release Glendon Rusch and let Guzman and Carlos Marmol battle for the long relief job come February. While the Cubs are just 16 away from the Century mark in losses, it would be nice to see them play better ball for the last 21 games of the season and that will not be easy tonight against Tim Hudson.
Hudson was shelled in his last outing against the Phillies; he gave up 6 runs on 6 hits in 7 innings that included 3 home runs off the bat of Ryan Howard. Hudson had a very good August after a horrible July. Before his start against the Phils he was 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 6 starts. The Cubs scored 4 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings back on May 26th, Hudson received a no-decision and the Cubs lost in the 9th….Dempster gave up 3 runs after Zambrano had pitched a gem to start the game. Hudson is 1-0 in 2 career games with a complete game and a 3.60 ERA against the Cubs.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….