Game Three: Cubs (0-2) vs. Brewers (2-0)
Game Time – 1:20pm C.T.
Coverage – TV: WGN – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 184
Location – Wrigley Field, Chicago
Ryan Dempster (0-0, -.–/-.–) vs. Dave Bush (0-0, -.–/-.–)
Lou Piniella’s crew will try to salvage the last game of the series today behind Ryan Dempster. The Cubs’ former closer will make his first start since 2005 and will try to give his team their first win of the new season.
The Cubs are coming off a very bad performance on Wednesday and must rebound today to avoid a 0-3 start….and to avoid being swept at home against a division rival to begin the season. Piniella said it right, “It’s only two games, but it is not a good start.” Alfonso Soriano will be back in the leadoff spot today. Ryan Dempster had a good spring as he earned a spot in Lou Piniella’s rotation. Many of the experts questioned the move by the Cubs to make Dempster a starter again….and all of the off-season concerns about the Cubs’ rotation have not been silenced in the first two games. While Carlos Zambrano was very good on Opening Day, his team did not win the ballgame….and after Ted Lilly the Cubs have question mark after question mark after question mark. Ryan Dempster could silence a lot of his critics with a win today.
Dempster was 2-7 a year ago with a 4.72 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP and was 28 for 31 in save opportunities. He was 3-7 in 20 starts for the Reds in 2003 with a 6.54 ERA and a 1.76 WHIP in his last season with double digit starts. In 30 career games, 8 starts, against the Brewers, Dempster is 4-2 with 10 saves, 1 complete game, a 2.46 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.
- Ryan Braun – 0-for-2
- Prince Fielder – 0-for-4
- Bill Hall – 3-for-9
- Jason Kendall – 12-for-26 with 2 doubles and 4 walks
- Rickie Weeks – 0-for-5
The Cubs will see another familiar face on the mound for the Brewers today….Dave Bush. In 8 career starts versus the Cubs, Bush is 1-5 with a 4.36 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP….last year he was 0-3 in 3 starts with a 7.00 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP.
- Mark DeRosa – 3-for-9 with a home run
- Derrek Lee – 4-for-16 with a double
- Felix Pie – 1-for-3
- Aramis Ramirez – 6-for-19 with 3 doubles and a home run
- Alfonso Soriano – 6-for-18 with 2 doubles
- Ryan Theriot – 3-for-7 with 2 doubles
The Cubs offense must get on track today but with these two starters, it could end up being a high scoring ballgame.
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….