Talkin’ Cubs Live – Cubs vs. Astros – 09/07/10

Carlos Silva (10-5, 3.92/1.24) vs. Nelson Figueroa (2-1, 2.36/1.14)

Updated 3:05pm CDT – Carlos Silva activated from 15-day DL

Updated 3:06pm CDT – According to the Tribune … Jeff Samardzija, Sam Fuld, Justin Berg were called up from Triple-A Iowa. Bobby Scales and Brad Snyder were selected from Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs have not announced the corresponding roster moves to add Snyder and Scales to the 40-man roster

Updated – 5:39pm CDT – Esmailin Caridad and John Grabow Transferred to 60-Day DL in order to add Brad Snyder and Bobby Scales to 40-man roster

It’s Billy Williams Day at Wrigley Field! The Cubs have finally decided to honor one of the best of All-Time, Sweet Swingin’ Billy Williams.

The Cubs will unveil a statue honoring the Hall of Famer in ceremonies beginning at 5:30pm CDT this afternoon. Williams will be joined by his family and former teammates … Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins and Glenn Beckert.

The Cubs are 9-4 under Mike Quade and will look to secure their third straight winning series tonight. The Cubs took care of business Monday in come from behind fashion to post their fourth win in five games.

Carlos Silva will be activated from the 15-day DL this afternoon and make his first start since August 1 in Colorado.

In Other News
Aramis Ramirez is expected to miss his second game in a row with a sore right quad. Ramirez received treatment on Monday. Ramirez is listed as day-to-day but from listening to Mike Quade, it does not sound like Ramirez will be back anytime soon.

Starlin Castro will reportedly miss his second game in a row after being benched Monday to “reflect on gaffes” he made Saturday and Sunday. Castro is expected back in the lineup Wednesday night.

With the I-Cubs season coming to a disappointing end Monday, several players should be joining the big league club soon. Among those expected to receive September call-up are Sam Fuld, Jeff Samardzija, Justin Berg, Jeff Stevens and Brad Snyder. In order for the Cubs to add Snyder to the 40-man roster, they will have to clear a spot. One option is to transfer John Grabow to the 60-day DL.

Tonight it all starts with Carlos Silva … Carlos Silva will be activated from the DL prior to game time and make his first start since August 1. Silva left the game in Colorado with breathing problems and was taken to a local hospital. Silva underwent a minor heart procedure to correct the problem a few days later.

Silva made two rehab starts in the minors in preparation for his return to the Cubs.

It will be interesting to see how long Silva can go tonight.

After a tremendous first half (9-3 in 17 starts with a 3.45 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP), Silva has struggled since his last start prior to the break in Los Angeles. In three starts, Silva is 1-2 with an 11.37 ERA and a 2.84 WHIP … and made it out of the second inning just once, his only win on July 26 at Houston.

Silva pitched rather well at Wrigley before his stint on the DL … 4-3 in 10 starts with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He is 2-1 in three starts against Houston this season with a 4.15 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP.

Astros’ Career Numbers against Carlos Silva

• Geoff Blum – 2-for-9 with 2 walks
• Michael Bourn – 3-for-8 with a double and a walk
• Jason Castro – 1-for-3
• Chris Johnson – 2-for-6 with a triple
• Jeff Keppinger – 1-for-6
• Carlos Lee – 10-for-33 with 3 doubles and a walk
• Tommy Manzella – 1-for-3
• Jason Michaels – 2-for-10 with a double
• Hunter Pence – 1-for-6

Nelson Figueroa will make his fifth start of the season for the Houston Astros. Figueroa has been very good in Brad Mills’ rotation and is coming off a solid start against the Cardinals.

Figueroa held St. Louis to two runs on six hits in five innings with three walks and a strikeout. Figueroa picked up the win in the Astros 5-2 defeat over the Redbirds.

The veteran right-hander posted a 1-1 record in seven games, three starts, in August with a 2.28 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP … he is 2-1 in his last eight games, three starts, with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Figueroa has recorded 20 strikeouts in his last 28 2/3 innings.

Tonight will be Figueroa’s seventh career start against the Cubs. He is 1-5 in 12 games, six starts, with a 4.12 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.

Cubs Career Numbers against Nelson Figueroa

• Jeff Baker – 2-for-3
• Marlon Byrd – 1-for-2
• Starlin Castro – 0-for-1
• Tyler Colvin – 1-for-1 with a triple
• Blake DeWitt – 3-for-3 with a home run
• Kosuke Fukudome – 3-for-7 with 2 walks
• Koyie Hill – 0-for-3
• Xavier Nady – 1-for-1 with a walk
• Aramis Ramirez – 6-for-16 with a double, 2 home runs and 2 walks
• Alfonso Soriano – 0-for-2
• Geovany Soto – 0-for-5
• Carlos Zambrano – 1-for-5 with a double

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