Game One Hundred Fifty-Two: Cubs (62-89) vs. Phillies (77-73)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. WCIU, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 184
Location – Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Wade Miller (0-1, 6.75) vs. Jamie Moyer (8-14, 4.38)
Let the Countdown begin, just 10 left after tonight. Angel Guzman was scheduled to take the mound tonight against the Phillies but with the off day on Thursday the Cubs have skipped Guzman and have decided to give Wade Miller his 3rd start of the season. Miller was very sharp against the Dodgers on the 14th. He gave up just 2 runs on 1 hit, a home run by Marlon Anderson, walked 3 and struck out 3 in 5 innings of work….a much-improved outing from his season debut against the Braves. The most impressive part of Miller’s last start was his increased velocity. Miller threw a lot better with much more command and confidence. Miller has stated that his deal with the Cubs was for more than just 1-year and with the unknown future of Mark Prior, if Miller could finish the season strong he could be a factor in the Cubs plans for 2007. Miller is 0-3 in 4 career starts with a 4.22 ERA against the Phillies.
With the Dodgers winning on Monday…thanks to Nomar, the Phillies are 1 1/2 games back of the Padres for the Wild Card lead. The Phillies cannot afford to drop 2 in a row to the Cubs and will look to even the series behind former Cub, Jamie Moyer. After coming over from the Seattle Mariners Moyer is 2-2 with a 4.32 ERA with the Phillies and one of those wins came against the Cubs. Moyer threw 6 innings for the win back on August 22nd in Wrigley, his first game with the Phillies. He allowed just 3 runs on 6 hits, struck out 4 and walked just 1. In his other 4 games he has had mixed results and is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA. He has given up 4 home runs and 16 hits in his last 21 1/3 innings. Moyer is 1-0 in 2 career starts against the Cubs with a 3.75 ERA.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball….