Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Brewers – 08/02/10

Randy Wells (5-8, 4.10/1.39) vs. Yovani Gallardo (9-5, 2.77/1.31)

Updated – 4:07pm CDT – Cubs purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman from Triple-A Iowa and added him to the 40-man roster. Coleman was called up on Monday to take the spot on the Cubs’ pitching staff vacated by the trade of Ted Lilly. Thomas Diamond will be called-up and added to the 40-man roster on Tuesday.

Updated 4:27pm CDT – Carlos Silva placed on 15-day DL for Precautionary Testing. Cubs purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Thomas Diamond from Triple-A Iowa and added him to the 40-man roster.

With the additions of Casey Coleman and Thomas Diamond, the Cubs 40-man roster stands at 40 players.

After a miserable road trip (1-5) in which they were outscored 45-24, the Cubs open a three-game series against the Brewers in need of a win. Lou’s crew enters play tonight riding a season-high five-game losing streak just 1/2 game ahead of the Astros for fifth place in the division … the Cubs are 13 games under .500 for the first time since 2006.

The Cubs should make at least one roster move prior to tonight’s game … with another one coming before Tuesday.

The bullpen has been taxed over the past week. Tom Gorzelanny was the only starter to complete at least six innings (Saturday night) on the recent trip and with Carlos Silva likely headed to the DL, the Cubs could use a fresh arm or two. James Russell and Carlos Zambrano should be unavailable tonight after pitching four of the eight and two-thirds innings on Sunday.

Randy Wells was pushed up a day to make tonight’s start. Wells will pitch on normal rest in the spot vacated by Ted Lilly. Thomas Diamond will be called up from Iowa, added to the 40-man roster and make his debut tomorrow night. Once Diamond is added to the big league roster, the Cubs will have one spot remaining on their 40-man roster (currently stands at 38 players).

Lou Piniella will miss tonight’s game after leaving the team Saturday to attend the funeral of his uncle, Joseph Magadan. Magadan is the father of former Cub and current Red Sox hitting coach Dave Magadan. Alan Trammell will serve as the Cubs’ manager. Piniella is expected to return to the dugout on Tuesday night.

Tonight it all begins with Randy Wells … After a string of five very good starts, Randy Wells returned to his May-June form in his last outing against the Astros. Wells struggled with his command early, never found a rhythm and walked a season-high (or low) five batters. The free passes ran up his pitch count and he lasted only 5 2/3 innings … first time since June 11 (White Sox) Wells did not complete at least six innings of work.

With Lilly in L.A. and Zambrano in the pen, Wells has the opportunity to finish the season strong and make his rough two months a distant memory. The Cubs figure to have a couple of spots in the rotation that will be up for grab next spring, a good finish to a poor year might cement him a spot in the backend of the staff next season.

Wells is coming off a very good month and posted a 2-2 record in five July starts with a 1.83 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.

Tonight will be Wells’ 12th start of the year at Wrigley … 3-3 with a 3.65 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.

Randy Wells has had mixed results in two starts versus the Brewers this season. Wells is 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Randy received a no decision against Milwaukee back on April 14 at Wrigley (four runs on 10 hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings), Wells then beat the Brewers on April 25 in Milwaukee (two runs on seven hits in seven innings).

In seven career games, five starts, Wells is 2-1 versus the Brewers with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Brewers Career Numbers against Randy Wells

• Ryan Braun – 5-for-14 with a double and a walk
• Craig Counsell – 2-for-9 with 2 walks
• Jim Edmonds – 1-for-3
• Alcides Escobar – 5-for-10 with a walk
• Prince Fielder – 4-for-12 with a double, a home run and a walk
• Jody Gerut – 3-for-7 with a home run
• Carlos Gomez – 1-for-3
• Corey Hart – 3-for-12 with a double
• Joe Inglett – 1-for-2 with a double
• Casey McGehee – 1-for-3
• Rickie Weeks – 3-for-10 with a double

The Cubs pathetic offense will get the pleasure tonight of facing one of the best young right-handers in the league. Yovani Gallardo is coming off a rare bad start and has struggled in two of his last three starts.

The Reds pounded out 10 hits and scored six runs, five earned, off Gallardo in just 2 2/3 innings … it was the second time since July 4 that Gallardo had not been able to make it through three innings.

Gallardo is an excellent 5-1 in ten starts on the road this season with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP.

Gallardo dominated the Cubs the only time he faced them this season. Yovani received a no decision in the Brewers 3-2 win but he held Lou’s crew to just four hits and no run in seven innings (two walks and seven strikeouts).

Tonight will be Gallardo’s sixth career start versus the Cubs … 1-1 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP … at Wrigley, 0-1 in three starts with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Yovani Gallardo

• Jeff Baker – 0-for-1
• Marlon Byrd – 1-for-3
• Starlin Castro – 1-for-3 with a double
• Tyler Colvin – 1-for-3
• Mike Fontenot – 2-for-10 with a double and a walk
• Kosuke Fukudome – 4-for-11 with a walk
• Koyie Hill – 0-for-3
• Derrek Lee – 3-for-9 with a double and 3 walks
• Xavier Nady – 2-for-5 with a double
• Aramis Ramirez – 3-for-8 with a double and a walk
• Alfonso Soriano – 1-for-9 with a double
• Geovany Soto – 3-for-8 with a double, a home run and a walk
• Carlos Zambrano – 1-for-3 with a home run

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