Spring Training Game Twenty-Five: Cubs (12-11-1) vs. Giants (12-13)
Game Time – 3:05pm C.T. – Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio 184
Location – Scottsdale Stadium, Scottsdale
Wade Miller (1-0, 5.11) vs. Barry Zito (2-1, 4.85)
Wade Miller has all but locked up the 5th spot in the rotation according to multiple reports but a good outing today against the Giants would help his cause. Miller has been effective for the Cubs this spring with his last outing being his best despite the 3 earned runs allowed in 3 1/3 innings. Miller should face a Giants lineup that includes Barry Bonds today, with Bonds absent from the lineup on Friday at HoHoKam. Miller said he felt better after his last outing against the Mariners split squad on Monday. The home run he gave up to Adrian Beltre apparently “got under his skin”.
So far this spring Miller has allowed 8 runs, 7 earned, on 19 hits, walked 4, struck out 11 in 12 1/3 innings (4 games) with a 1.86 WHIP.
Barry Zito’s line for the spring is very reminiscent of Miller’s…. 7 runs, all earned, on 13 hits, walked 5, struck out 11 in 13 innings (4 games) with a 1.38 WHIP. Today will be the second start of the spring for Zito against the Cubs. In the Cactus League opener, Zito threw 2 scoreless innings, struck out 1 and gave up just 1 hit….he looked very sharp.
After today’s game, the Cubs have only 5 games left before the head to Las Vegas for the final two exhibition games of the spring at Cashman Field.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….