Game One Hundred Fifty-Six: Cubs (63-92) vs. Reds (75-79)
Game Time – 12:15pm C.T. Comcast Sports Net, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 186
Location – Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati
Juan Mateo (1-3, 4.38) vs. Aaron Harang (14-11, 3.91)
The Cubs will look to take game 3 of the series behind rookie right-hander Juan Mateo. Mateo had to leave in the 3rd inning of his last start on September 15th against the Reds with tightness in his back. This could be the last start of the season for Mateo and he needs to throw a good game today and give the Cubs a reason to look at him to fill the 5th spot in the rotation in 2007. The Cubs will have their hands full today with Aaron Harang. They beat Harang back on Opening Day and scored 9 runs, 6 earned, on 9 hits in 5 innings but that was his first career loss against them in 8 games (4-1 with a 4.64 ERA and a complete game). Harang is one of the reasons for the Reds not making the playoffs and is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in his last 4 games. He has given up at least 4 earned runs in his last 5 starts and the last time he held an opponent to under 4 runs was back on August 25th against the Giants, just 2. In his last 4 he has surrendered 6 long balls, 28 total hits and in 29 innings he has given up 16 runs.
Juan Mateo has the most promise of any of the young pitchers other than Rich Hill but he has not been able to go deep in a game since August 20th against the Cardinals. He threw 7 innings and gave up 4 runs on 7 hits and took the loss. Mateo has not won a game since his debut on August 3rd against the Diamondbacks but he did no-hit the Reds on September 15th. Against the Reds he gave up 2 walks and struck out 3 before leaving the game and turning it over to Carlos Marmol. Mateo is 0-1 with a 4.85 ERA in his last 3 games….13 innings, 11 hits, 7 runs, 4 walks and 16 strikeouts. In 39 innings this season Mateo has struck out 30 and walked 15, the talent is there he just needs time.
Let’s Talk Cubbies Baseball and Go Bears!!