Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Giants – 07/11/08

Jason Marquis (6-5, 4.78/1.48) vs. Matt Cain (5-7, 4.30/1.33)

Updated – 11:30am C.T. with Roster Moves – According to a report from the Sun Times, the Cubs have optioned Michael Wuertz to Triple-A Iowa and recalled Kevin Hart.

After splitting a 4-game series by the Bay last week, Lou Piniella’s crew opens a 3-game series today against the San Francisco Giants and Matt Cain. The Cubs won the first series of the last homestand before the break and will look to bounce back today behind Jason Marquis. This afternoon will be a rematch of the game back on July 1st in which Matt Cain dominated the Cubs offense and Marquis lost one of his better outings of the season, 2-1.

The Cubs are still expected to make a roster move at some point this weekend. Speculation following the trade of Matt Murton was that Micah Hoffpauir would be recalled from Iowa and Sean Marshall would be sent down to make room….but the Cubs still have 13 pitchers on the active roster. A report in the Tribune indicated Jason Dubois could be added to the Cubs 40-man roster and possibly return to Wrigley for the first time since 2005 in a Cubs’ uniform….stay tuned. Jason Marquis has not pitched in 10 days and should be plenty rested. Marquis was a hard luck loser….in a game the Cubs typically win. The Giants scored 2 runs on 4 hits in 7 innings while Marquis walked 3 and struck out 5. With all of the questions surrounding the rotation, Marquis needs a good outing today. If Rich Harden can stay healthy and with the fact Lou Piniella wants another lefty in his rotation, Marquis could have a very short string this afternoon….and in the near future.

While Marquis is coming off a strong outing in San Francisco, his last two starts at Wrigley have been anything but adequate.

The Orioles shelled Marquis on June 26th. They scored 7 runs on 7 hits in 4 innings and the White Sox scored 5 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings. He is 1-1 with a 9.82 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP in his last two outings at the Friendly Confines.

Marquis is 3-3 in 8 home starts this season with a horrible 6.29 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP while teams are hitting .321 against him. Marquis must throw strikes and not give the Giants any help….

Marquis is 3-1 in 5 career starts, 6 games, versus the Giants with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.

• Rich Aurilia – 6-for-17 with a triple and a home run
• Matt Cain – 1-for-3
• Jose Castillo – 1-for-16 with a double
• Fred Lewis – 2-for-4 with a double
• Bengie Molina – 0-for-6
• Aaron Rowand – 1-for-10
• Randy Winn – 7-for-16 with a double and 2 home runs

The Cubs offense will try to put the bat on the ball today against Matt Cain. Simply put….Matt Cain dominated the Cubs lineup the last time he faced them. Cain struck out 10 in 8 innings with 3 walks and only 2 hits. The Cubs did not manage a single run.

Cain has dominated the Cubs in the past at home, but he has struggled a little at Wrigley Field. The Cubs are 4-2 in 6 career games against Cain and have scored 17 runs, 15 earned, on 27 hits in 41 innings with 14 walks and 34 strikeouts (3.29 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP). But at Wrigley, Cain is 1-1 in 2 starts with a 4.63 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP….10 strikeouts and 7 walks in 11 2/3 innings.

The Cubs must make him work today and not let their ego try to prove a point.

The Dodgers beat Cain in his last outing 5-3. They managed 5 runs on 8 hits in 6 innings.

• Ronny Cedeno – 2-for-8
• Mark DeRosa – 1-for-7
• Jim Edmonds – 1-for-8
• Mike Fontenot – 2-for-6 with a double
• Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-4
• Derrek Lee – 3-for-12 with a home run
• Jason Marquis – 0-for-2
• Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-9 with a double
• Ryan Theriot – 2-for-7 with a double

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….