Game One Hundred Fifty-Eight: Cubs (83-74) vs. Marlins (67-90)
Game Time – 6:05pm C.T. Comcast SportsNet, WGN Radio, XM Radio Channel 185
Location – Dolphin Stadium, Miami
Jason Marquis (12-8, 4.35/1.34) vs. Daniel Barone (1-3, 5.40/1.63)
Only 5 games left…. The Cubs find themselves in another “must win game” tonight. While the Cubs still have a 2-game lead, they must win the final two series of the year in order to secure a spot in the post season. The Cubs control their own destiny but need to put runs on the board in bunches tonight against a pitcher they have never faced before, and it all starts with Jason Marquis. Today figures to be Jason Marquis’ last start of the regular season. Lou Piniella stated last week that if the Cubs have to play game #163, Marquis would likely get the start….let’s hope that decision never has to be made. Jason Marquis was having a good month until his last outing against the Pirates. Marquis hit the proverbial wall and had little to no command. Marquis lasted just 2 2/3 innings, his second shortest outing of the season and allowed 7 runs on 8 hits with 2 walks and 1 strikeout. He threw just 55 pitches, so he should be well rested.
Marquis faced the Marlins in the series at Wrigley at the end of May. He allowed 5 runs, 4 earned, on 8 hits in 5 innings. Marquis is 4-4 in 16 games, 9 career starts against the Marlins with a 6.85 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP.
The Cubs will get their first look at Daniel Barone tonight. Barone was the 11th round pick of the Marlins in the 2004 draft and has made 5 starts for the Marlins this season, with 10 appearances out of the pen….his only big league victory came in relief.
Barone was a combined 8-3 with a 3.96 ERA (23 starts) in Double-A and Triple-A this past year. He was 7-0 with the Albuquerque Isotopes of the PCL with a 4.09 ERA.
Barone has made only 1 start since September 2nd, but 9 total appearances. The Cubs must be patient at the plate and make the rookie work. In his last start against the Braves in Atlanta on September 19th, Barone gave up 4 runs on 7 hits in 4 1/3 innings on 72 pitches….the most he has thrown in a big league game since August 26th.
Piniella must not fill his lineup with lefties tonight. Barone splits against right handers versus left handers are worth noting….righties hit .349 with a .407 OBP while lefties hit .238 with a .338 OBP, 8 of the 10 home runs hit off of Barone have come off of right handed bats.
Barone is 0-3 in 5 starts with a 8.31 ERA and a 2.08 WHIP….as a reliever, 1-0 with a 1.15 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….