Game One Hundred Fifty-One: Cubs (78-72) vs. Brewers (74-77)
Game Time – 7:05pm C.T.
Coverage – TV: Comcast SportsNet – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location – Miller Park, Milwaukee
Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 7.89/1.85) vs. Chris Narveson (1-0, 4.22/1.41)
It’s getaway day for the Chicago Cubs. After tonight’s game they depart for San Francisco to begin their final road series of the season. Lou Piniella’s crew has won three in a row and will shoot for the series sweep of the Brewers behind Jeff Samardzija.
After reports early in the week suggested Ted Lilly would be skipped due to tendonitis in his left shoulder and Jeff Samardzija would make his start against the Brewers. The Cubs indicated on Tuesday they are just giving Lilly a break and nothing is wrong with either his shoulder or his knee.
Reed Johnson is expected to get the start tonight in centerfield. And So Taguchi as well as Jake Fox could start in an all right-handed outfield for Lou Piniella tonight against the southpaw Chris Narveson.
Angel Guzman was shutdown for the season on Tuesday when a MRI revealed inflammation in his right triceps area … the same injury that sent Guzman to the DL earlier in the season.
The Cubs are 10-6 against Milwaukee this season, with one game remaining on the schedule. Tonight it all begins with Jeff Samardzija and just winning a ballgame. Jeff Samardzija will make his second big league start tonight … and his first appearance since facing the Brewers in the ninth inning of the blowout win on September 15. Samardzija has struggled mightily at the big league level this season and he needs a good outing tonight.
The Cubs have high hopes that Samardzija will have a successful big league career. After a solid debut out of the Cubs’ pen last year, Samardzija has been as bad this season as he was good a year ago.
Samardzija is 1-2 in his last 11 games, one start, with a 9.30 ERA and a 1.87 WHIP. With the Cubs not playing for anything but pride right now, hopefully Jeff Samardzija will be able to show why the Cubs’ front office thinks he will have a very successful big league career one day.
Tonight will be Samardzija’s sixth career appearance against Milwaukee. ‘The Shark‘ does not have a record in the first five but did pick up a blown
- Ryan Braun – 1-for-3 with a walk
- Mike Cameron – 2-for-3 with a double
- Frank Catalanotto – 1-for-1 with a triple
- Craig Counsell – 0-for-3 with a walk
- Prince Fielder – 1-for-3 with a walk
- Mat Gamel – 0-for-1 with a walk
- Jody Gerut – 1-for-1
- J.J. Hardy – 0-for-3
- Corey Hart – 2-for-5 with a double
- Jason Kendall – 0-for-3
- Felipe Lopez – 0-for-1
- Casey McGehee – 1-for-1 with a home run
Chris Narveson will make his first career start against the Cubs tonight. The 27-year old southpaw is taking the place of Manny Parra in the Brewers’ rotation and will make his third start of the year.
Narveson is coming off a solid start against the Astros. He allowed one run on four hits in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Narveson does not have a decision in his last six games, two starts, but has allowed just four runs on 12 hits in 14 2/3 innings (2.45 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP).
The Cubs faced the Brewers’ lefty three times during the four-game series over the 4th of July weekend at Wrigley. The Cubs’ offense managed one run on four hits in three innings.
The Cubs must be patient against Chris Narveson early on and make him work. The numbers suggest he stays around the strike zone and he is the type of pitcher the Cubs traditionally struggle against.
- Mike Fontenot – 2-for-3 with a double
- Jake Fox – 0-for-1
- Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-1
- Sam Fuld – 0-for-1
- Derrek Lee – 0-for-1
- Geovany Soto – 0-for-2
- Ryan Theriot – 1-for-1
Let’s Talk Cubs Baseball….