Game One Hundred Forty-Eight: Cubs (66-81) vs. Marlins (73-73)
Game Time – 6:10pm CDT
Coverage – WGN TV – Radio: 720 WGN, XM Radio Channel 188
Location – Sun Life Stadium, Miami
Casey Coleman (1-2, 5.11/1.57) vs. Anibal Sanchez (12-9, 3.35/1.32)
Can the Chicago Cubs win five games in a row for the first time this season? Q’s crew posted their third four-game winning streak of the year Friday night … the first time since May 16 – May 19 that the Cubs won four games in a row. The Cubs are 6-1 on their current nine-game trip and 15-7 under Mike Quade. For as bad as the season has been, at least they are not limping to the finish line.
In Other News
During the Cubs Pre-Game Show (WGN Radio) Friday night, Mike Quade said “the kids” will play on Sunday in the finale against the Marlins. Welington Castillo is slated to catch Jeff Samardzija with Brad Snyder and Sam Fuld getting their first starts.
Tom Gorzelanny will return to the mound on Friday against the Cardinals at Wrigley. Gorzelanny threw a 75-pitch simulated game Friday afternoon in Miami and will be pushed from Wednesday to Friday. Randy Wells will go in the second game against the Giants on Wednesday.
The Tyler Colvin experiment at first base has all but been put on hold. With Xavier Nady getting the bulk of the playing time since the Derrek Lee trade and Micah Hoffpauir serving as Nady’s backup, Quade feels there is no need to play Colvin at first … especially against contenders. Quade left open the possibility of Colvin playing there during the final series of the season against the Astros.
Tonight it all starts with Casey Coleman … Casey Coleman is coming off an excellent outing against the Brewers … unfortunately it was also his second big league loss. Coleman allowed just one run on five hits in six innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Coleman has completed at least six innings in his last four starts … and four of his five big league starts.
Coleman is pitching for a spot in the Cubs rotation for next season. He has shown mixed results so far and must cut down on his walks. In his last two games (12 innings), Coleman has issued eight free passes with only five strikeouts. An inability to throw strikes is the quickest way to spend the year riding buses in the minors.
Casey will make his sixth start in the majors tonight, and fourth on the road. Coleman is 1-1 in five games, three starts, outside of Wrigley with a 2.53 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP … his only win came against the Nationals in D.C.
The Marlins will get their first look at Casey Coleman tonight.
The Marlins 26-year old right-hander is coming off an excellent start against the Nationals (one run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings without a walk and four strikeouts) and has put together a very consistent, inconsistent second half.
Anibal Sanchez will be lights out for one start then not so good the next … and that pattern has been repeating itself since July. But at home, Sanchez has been just about untouchable this season (4-3 in 13 starts with a 2.45 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP)
Sanchez is 1-1 in his last two starts with a 6.17 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP … and since the break, 5-3 in 11 outings with a 2.88 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
Tonight will be Sanchez’s third career start against the Cubs … 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP.
Cubs Career Numbers against Anibal Sanchez
- Blake DeWitt – 1-for-3
- Kosuke Fukudome – 0-for-2 with 3 walks
- Micah Hoffpauir – 2-for-3
- Alfonso Soriano – 4-for-16 with a double, 2 home runs and 3 walks
- Geovany Soto – 1-for-2
Luna Flooring is giving away two tickets to a Cubs’ game, as well as a chance to throw out the first pitch at Wrigley Field. Luna has asked the CCO to pass along the info to our readers. Those interested should click on this link … Want to Take a Friend to a Cubs Game on Us?
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