Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 09/17/09

Randy Wells (10-8, 2.96/1.25) vs. Dave Bush (4-7, 5.85/1.37)

Today is the last game of the homestand for Lou Piniella’s crew. The Cubs are 4-2 in the first six and a win today would more than finish the homestand on a positive note … also, with four remaining on the schedule against the Brewers, a victory this afternoon would ensure a winning record against Milwaukee for the year (the Cubs have won eight of the first 13 meetings between the two teams this season).

Randy Wells made his first career big league start against the Brewers back on May 8 and will face them for the second time this season. But the Cubs will need for Kosuke Fukudome and Milton Bradley to deliver at the plate in order to win the series. Fukudome is in a 0-for-23 slump while Bradley is 0-for his last 15. Look for Lou Piniella to shake up the lineup once again. Milton Bradley has been very effective hitting second and rather lost in any other place in the lineup.

Today it all begins with Randy Wells and not mailing in the remainder of the season … Randy Wells is coming off a no decision in his last outing. While his line against the Reds looks horrible (five runs, three earned, on six hits in 3 2/3 innings with three walks), Wells was the victim of horrible defense that ran up his pitch count and led to the shortest outing of his season.

The Cubs keep talking about limiting Randy Wells’ innings this season but has yet to do so. The Cubs must think about shutting Wells down after today if he is in their plans for 2010.

Wells is 6-4 in 12 starts at Wrigley this season with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP.

Today will be Randy Wells’ second start of the year against Milwaukee. Wells tossed five innings of shutout ball back on May 8 … his first career big league start. Wells received a no decision in the 3-2 Cubs loss. He allowed no runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts at Miller Park.

Randy Wells is 1-1 in his last three starts with a 2.20 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP.

• Ryan Braun – 1-for-3 with a walk
• Dave Bush – 0-for-2
• Mike Cameron – 1-for-3
• Craig Counsell – 0-for-2
• Prince Fielder – 0-for-2
• J.J. Hardy – 0-for-2 with 2 walks
• Corey Hart – 1-for-5
• Jason Kendall – 1-for-3 with a double

After spending time on the DL with right arm fatigue from June 23 (retroactive to June 21) through August 27, Dave Bush will make just his 19th start of the year. Bush is coming off an impressive win against the Diamondbacks … his first victory since May 19 in Houston. Bush held Arizona to one run on five hits in seven innings with a season-high 11 strikeouts.

Dave Bush is 1-2 in his last three starts with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP.

Today will be Bush’s third start of the season against the Cubs. Despite two no decisions he has pitched rather well versus Chicago with 3.38 ERA and 0.90 WHIP.

Bush is 1-7 in 14 career games, 13 starts, against the Cubs with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP.

• Andres Blanco – 0-for-2
• Milton Bradley – 1-for-6 with a home run
• Mike Fontenot – 1-for-8 with a double and 2 walks
• Kosuke Fukudome – 5-for-12 with 3 doubles, a home run and 4 walks
• Koyie Hill – 1-for-7 with a walk
• Micah Hoffpauir – 0-for-6
• Derrek Lee – 4-for-27 with a double
• Aaron Miles – 0-for-10 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 8-for-29 with 3 doubles, 3 home runs and 2 walks
• Bobby Scales – 1-for-1 with a triple
• Geovany Soto – 1-for-6 with a walk
• So Taguchi – 1-for-3
• Ryan Theriot – 6-for-22 with 2 doubles
• Randy Wells – 0-for-1

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….