Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 09/21/09

Tom Gorzelanny (5-2, 5.29/1.15) vs. Braden Looper (13-6, 4.89/1.46)

Updated 4:48pm C.T. – Tyler Colvin Called up from Double-A Tennessee and Reed Johnson Activated from the 15-day DL.

Tyler Colvin is in Monday’s starting lineup.

Updated – 5:49pm C.T. – Thomas Diamond designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Tyler Colvin.

The Cubs will make their last trip of the year to Milwaukee after the two teams split a four-game series at Wrigley Field last week. The Cubs have won eight of the first 14 games of the season against the Brewers … and the next three days will have an impact on where the Cubs finish in the division. The Brewers have won five straight that includes the final two against the Cubs and a sweep of the Astros.

The Cubs enter this series with Milwaukee just three games up in the loss column with 14 games remaining on their schedule.

Tyler Colvin is expected to join the team tonight and should make his Major League debut. The Sun-Times reported Colvin will be in the starting lineup for the final two weeks of the season. Colvin had a good year in Double-A playing for Ryne Sandberg. The lefty hit .300 with a .324 OBP and a .524 slugging percentage (an .859 OPS) in 84 games for the Smokies with 14 home runs, 13 doubles and seven triples.

Tom Gorzelanny will make at least two of Rich Harden’s last three starts of the year. After Harden struggled in his last outing, the Cubs said he would be skipped tonight and possibly his turn in the rotation when the Cubs are in San Francisco.

Tonight is all starts with Tom Gorzelanny and just winning a ballgame … Tom Gorzelanny will make his first start tonight since August 20 in Los Angeles. Gorzelanny has done an okay job since being acquired from the Pirates before the deadline. Gorzelanny has a lot of talent and figures to be in the mix for a starting spot with the Cubs next season.

Gorzelanny’s last appearance came against the Brewers in Thursday’s finale. Gorzelanny gave up two runs on one hit and one walk in 2/3 of an inning … both runs credited to Gorzelanny came on a bases loaded double by Mike Rivera off of Esmailin Caridad.

Tom Gorzelanny is 3-3 in nine career starts, 12 games, against the Brewers with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP … at Miller Park, 1-2 in four career starts with a 7.97 ERA and a 2.11 WHIP.

• Ryan Braun – 8-for-17 with a double, 3 home runs and 5 walks
• Mike Cameron – 4-for-16 with 6 walks
• Craig Counsell – 0-for-1
• Alcides Escobar – 1-for-1
• Prince Fielder – 6-for-24 with a double and a walk
• J.J. Hardy – 8-for-21 with a double, a home run and 3 walks
• Corey Hart – 5-for-24 with a double, 2 home runs and a walk
• Jason Kendall – 2-for-10 with a walk
• Braden Looper – 0-for-1 with a walk
• Felipe Lopez – 1-for-6 with a walk
• Casey McGehee – 0-for-1

The Cubs will get their second look in less than a week at Braden Looper. Looper continued his dominance against the Cubs last week in Chicago and it will be very tough for the Cubs’ offense once again tonight. Looper has the Cubs’ number and the Brewers give him a ton of run support.

In his last outing, Looper gave up five runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings against the Cubs.

Braden Looper is 4-3 in 16 starts at Miller Park this season with a 4.58 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP.

It is not too often a pitcher tallies 13 wins with an ERA just south of five … but Braden Looper is one of the exceptions to the rule.

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-1
• Andres Blanco – 1-for-1
• Mike Fontenot – 4-for-16 with a double and 2 walks
• Jake Fox – 1-for-4
• Kosuke Fukudome – 6-for-21 with a double and a home run
• Tom Gorzelanny – 0-for-2
• Koyie Hill – 0-for-4 with a walk
• Micah Hoffpauir – 1-for-6 with a double
• Derrek Lee – 9-for-31 with a double, a home run and 3 walks
• Aaron Miles – 1-for-1
• Aramis Ramirez – 8-for-28 with a home run and 5 walks
• Bobby Scales – 1-for-3
• Geovany Soto – 6-for-16 with a double and a home run
• So Taguchi – 0-for-1
• Ryan Theriot – 8-for-26 with 2 doubles and 3 walks

Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….