Spring Training Game Fifteen: Cubs (9-5) vs. Dodgers (4-6-1)
Game Time – 3:05pm CDT
Coverage – TV: MLB TV.com (Dodgers Feed) – Radio: MLB.com
Location – Camelback Ranch, Glendale
Ryan Dempster (1-0, 0.00/0.20) vs. Chad Billingsley (0-0, 1.80/0.80)
Lou Piniella’s crew returns to work this afternoon following their only scheduled day off of the spring … the Cubs next day off is April 4 before the season opener in Atlanta. Today is the first of back-to-back games for the Cubs at Camelback Ranch. The Cubs play the White Sox for the final time in Arizona on Friday.
The Cubs will face the Dodgers for the first time this spring. The Dodgers only trip to HoHoKam Park was rained
out on March 7. Ryan Dempster will see a Dodgers’ lineup that could feature a former teammate … Reed Johnson.
Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are expected back in the lineup this afternoon. The Cubs’ regulars should begin receiving more playing time with just over two weeks remaining on the Cactus League schedule.
Ryan Dempster has quietly gone about his business this spring. In two starts, five innings, Dempster has allowed one unearned run on one hit with two strikeouts … and no walks. Dempster is slated to pitch four innings this afternoon.
The Cubs will see a familiar face they have struggled against in the past. Chad Billingsley will make his third start of the spring. In Billingsley’s first two outings, just one earned run on five hits with three walks and four strikeouts in five innings.
Jeff Weaver and knuckleballer Charlie Haeger are scheduled to follow Billingsley this afternoon.
Mike Fontenot is expected to start and play a lot at shortstop over the weekend. Lou Piniella needs to see if he is a realistic option to backup Ryan Theriot. Fontenot’s ability to play short could impact Micah Hoffpauir, Andres Blanco, Kevin Millar and Chad Tracy making the team.
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