Game Eighteen: Cubs (7-10) vs. Cardinals (7-10)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T. WGN TV, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 187
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Wade Miller (0-1, 9.00/2.33) vs. Adam Wainwright (1-1, 3.20/1.53)
Updated 12:40pm C.T. with News concerning Ron Santo
Happy Earth Day…. The Cubs will look to win their second series of the season and post back-to-back wins for only the second time. Wade Miller has been less than stellar in his first 2 starts but after allowing 3 runs in the first two innings against the Padres last Wednesday, Miller did not allow a run in his last 3 innings of work. Today will be the first time Miller has pitched on regular rest and the Cubs need Miller to continue the improvements he has made and pickup his first win as a Chicago Cub. After a dismal outing against the Brewers two weeks ago today (6 runs on 9 hits, 2 home runs in 4 innings), Wade Miller pitched a lot better against the Padres and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 5 innings of work but he is still having trouble with velocity, location and throwing strikes. In 9 innings he has walked 6 and struck out just 3….and of his 169 pitches thrown only 98 have been for strikes.
Miller has had success against the Cardinals. In 18 career starts (19 appearances), he is 8-6 with a complete game shutout. In 120 1/3 innings he has allowed 52 runs, 50 earned, on 82 hits with a 3.74 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Today will be the first start for Miller against the Cardinals since 2004 when he was 1-3 in 4 starts with a 5.91 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP (14 runs on 19 hits, 4 home runs, 15 walks and 16 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings). St. Louis’ big three have had success against Miller….
- Jim Edmonds – 10-38, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 6 RBI’s
- Albert Pujols – 12-41, 1 double, 6 home runs, 10 RBI’s
- Scott Rolen – 7-28, 2 doubles, 1 triple and 7 RBI’s
Adam Wainwright will make his first career start at Wrigley Field today. In 9 relief appearances against the Cubs he has given up 4 runs on 10 hits, walked 2 and struck out 8 in 8 1/3 innings (4.32 ERA, 1.44 WHIP). Wainwright has had success as a starter this season but has had trouble throwing strikes. He was spectacular in his first start of the season against the Astros and allowed just 1 run on 5 hits in 7 innings of work but in his last 2 starts he has allowed 7 runs, 6 earned, in 12 2/3 innings on 15 hits while walking 7 and striking out 8. Several Cubs have had success in limited at bats against Wainwright….
- Ronny Cedeno – 2-3 with a RBI
- Jacque Jones – 2-6, 1 double
- Aramis Ramirez – 2-6, 1 double, 1 RBI
In 5 career games at Wrigley, Wainwright has given up 2 runs on 8 hits in 5 2/3 innings (3.18 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, .333 batting average).
With temperatures expected in the low 80’s, balls could be leaving the yard at a rapid pace.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….
Angel Guzman Update from 4/21/07 start against the Nashville Sounds….
Guzman had a very rough start for the Iowa Cubs on Saturday night. Of the 6 hits he allowed, 3 were for extra bases (2 doubles and a 2-run home run) and he walked 2 while not recording a strikeout. Brewers’ top third base prospect, Ryan Braun (he should mak his major league debut this year), hit his 7th double of the season off of Guzman. Out of 54 pitches, 34 were for strikes. Guzman’s line….
- 5 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, 1 home run in 3 innings
Update on Ron Santo – According to a statement on Cubs.com, Ron Santo was checked into the hospital last night with “symptoms of an irregular heartbeat.” The report states Santo is doing fine but will be kept for observation and tests.