Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Cardinals – 09/20/08

Ted Lilly (15-9, 4.13/1.25) vs. Joel Pineiro (6-6, 5.24/1.49)

Updated – 1:25pm C.T. – According to a report from Bruce Levine on Satuday afternoon, Chad Gaudin is back with the Cubs and will be available out of the pen on Sunday.

Today is simple…. if the Cubs win they are the NL Central Champs for 2008.

Game on! The last time Ted Lilly took the mound he tried to match Carlos Zambrano pitch-for-pitch. Hopefully Lilly does not follow Big Z’s lead once again. Ted Lilly pitched a gem in his last outing against the Astros. He took a no-hitter of his own into the 7th inning and ended up allowing only a single hit in 7 complete.

Lilly has been very good in his last two starts after being shelled in Cincinnati on September 5th. Lilly has won his last two games but has not posted a win at home since August 2nd (at Wrigley this season, 6-5 in 14 games with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP). Lilly was 3-2 in 6 starts last month with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. In his last 3 games, 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP.

Lilly will make his fifth start of the season today against the Cardinals. He is 2-0 in the first 4 with a 2.54 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Lilly must not give the Cardinals any help today. If the wind is blowing out, walks will have a big impact on the outcome.

Cardinals’ stats versus Lilly this season:

• Troy Glaus – 0-for-9
• Cesar Izturis – 5-for-10 with a double
• Adam Kennedy – 3-for-10
• Jason LaRue – 0-for-1
• Felipe Lopez – 1-for-6
• Ryan Ludwick – 2-for-11 with 2 doubles
• Albert Pujols – 4-for-10 with a double and a home run
• Brendan Ryan – 1-for-6
• Skip Schumaker – 1-for-11

The Cubs will get their first look of the season today at Joel Pineiro. Lou Piniella’s former starter has been in and out of the Cardinals rotation this year and showed glimpses last season against the Cubs how good he can actually be on the mound. Pineiro posted a 2-1 record in 3 starts against the Cubs with a robust 7.04 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP.

The Cubs must be patient at the plate today and make Pineiro work. He doesn’t walk a lot of batters but he does give up his fair share of hits. In 135 2/3 innings this season. Pineiro has given up 171 hits, 21 home runs and 31 free passes.

Pineiro is 4-5 in 16 road starts this season with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP….during the day, 0-2 in 7 starts with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. In his last 2 starts, 0-1 with a 11.00 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP with a .389 OBA.

Pineiro is 2-2 in 4 career games against the Cubs with a 5.84 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

• Henry Blanco – 1-for-6
• Mark DeRosa – 3-for-12 with a home run
• Jim Edmonds – 0-for-2
• Reed Johnson – 4-for-12 with a double and a home run
• Derrek Lee – 5-for-7 with 2 doubles and a home run
• Ted Lilly – 1-for-4 with a double
• Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-7 with a home run
• Alfonso Soriano – 14-for-42 with 4 doubles and 3 home runs
• Ryan Theriot – 3-for-8 with 2 doubles

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….