Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 09/15/09

Carlos Zambrano (8-6, 3.77/1.41) vs. Yovani Gallardo (12-11, 3.59/1.29)

Updated – 4:41pm C.T. – Alfonso Soriano Placed on the 15-day DL following surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning. The DL move is retroactive to September 4. According to a report from the Sun-Times, Soriano’s surgery went well.

Updated – 4:41pm C.T. – Sam Fuld had a MRI on his right hand Tuesday. Fuld injured his hand making a diving catch in the fifth inning on Monday night.

After being shutdown, for the most part, on Monday night by Jeff Suppan, it will not get any easier for the Cubs’ offense tonight. The Cubs will face one of the best young right-handers in the game in Yovani Gallardo. In order for the Cubs to win their third game in a row it will likely take a Ryan-Dempster-like performance from Carlos Zambrano.

According to multiple reports, Alfonso Soriano was expected to have season-ending knee surgery Tuesday morning. Soriano is expected to rehab for around six weeks. Soriano will also have his eyes tested and the Cubs are trying to get him to change to a lighter bat. Soriano currently swings a 36-ounce bat and many are trying to get him to switch to a lighter 34-ounce bat. According to Bruce Levine, “so far this season, he had resisted doing that.”

Kyler Burke and Casey Coleman were named the Cubs Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year on Monday. Burke was acquired in the deal that sent Michael Barrett to the Padres in 2007. Burke finished the season with a .303/.405/.505/.911 line with 43 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs in 132 games for the Peoria Chiefs. The 21-year old left-handed outfielder led the Cubs’ system with 14 outfield assists.

Casey Coleman is one of the reasons the Tennessee Smokies advanced to the Southern League Championship Series this season. Coleman was 14-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 27 starts and walked only 58 batters in 149 innings.

Tonight it all starts with Carlos Zambrano and not mailing in the remainder of the season. Carlos Zambrano is coming off a win against the Pirates … his first since July 22 in Philadelphia. Zambrano has thrown the ball rather well in his last two outings and has only one win to show for his effort … 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Zambrano has pitched much better on the road this season (6-2 in 13 starts with a 3.03 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP) than at Wrigley (2-4 in 11 starts with a 4.64 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP). Big Z’s last home win came in the first game of the day-night doubleheader with the Cardinals back on July 12.

Tonight will be Zambrano’s third start of the season against the Brewers. Zambrano has not received a decision yet this year against Milwaukee and has allowed four runs on 12 hits in 13 innings (two starts).

Big Z is 10-8 in 25 career games, 24 starts, versus the Brewers with a 3.57 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.

• Ryan Braun – 6-for-23 with a double, a home run and a walk
• Mike Cameron – 1-for-16 with a walk
• Craig Counsell – 7-for-30 with 2 doubles and 6 walks
• Prince Fielder – 12-for-32 with 5 doubles, 2 home runs and 9 walks
• Yovani Gallardo – 0-for-2
• Jody Gerut – 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 walks
• J.J. Hardy – 2-for-22 with a home run and 4 walks
• Corey Hart – 6-for-20 with a triple and 4 walks
• Jason Kendall – 10-for-36 with 2 walks
• Felipe Lopez – 14-for-39 with 2 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs and 7 walks
• Casey McGehee – 1-for-3
• Corey Patterson – 1-for-6 with a double and a walk

The Cubs’ offense will face the best the Brewers have to offer tonight in Yovani Gallardo. Milwaukee’s staff ace has been excellent in the second half and has not allowed more than three earned runs in a single game since August 4 … the only time since July 12. Gallardo’s only problem is he is not going deep in games. He has pitched into the seventh inning only three times since July 19.

Yovani Gallardo is 4-4 in his last 10 starts with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP … on the road this season, 5-5 in 13 starts with a 3.90 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Tonight will be Gallardo’s fourth career start against the Cubs. He is 1-0 in the first three with a 3.71 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Gallardo beat the Cubs back on May 9 in Milwaukee, 12-6. The Cubs managed just two runs on five hits in five innings with four walks … Gallardo struck out eight.

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-1
• Milton Bradley – 1-for-2 with a walk
• Mike Fontenot – 1-for-5 with a double
• Kosuke Fukudome – 3-for-5 with a walk
• Derrek Lee – 1-for-5 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 2-for-5 with a double and a walk
• Bobby Scales – 0-for-2
• Geovany Soto – 2-for-6 with a double
• Ryan Theriot – 3-for-5 with a walk
• Carlos Zambrano – 1-for-2 with a home run

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….